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Tokugawa monetary system

Ichibukin and Nibukin

Rectangular gold expressed declared bu values in compact forms related to, but physically distinct from, one-ryō Koban.

一分金・二分金Ichibukin and Nibukin

Ichibukin and Nibukin obverse Ichibukin and Nibukin reverse
As6673 · Public domain · Representative documented issue for this broader family; not every standard or stamp arrangement.
Branch
gold
Years
Tokugawa period
Form
rectangular
Valuation
declared fractions or multiples of bu

Context

Historical and monetary setting

One bu equals one quarter of a ryō; two-bu issues became especially important in later Tokugawa recoinage contexts.

Identification

How to classify the object

Both faces, border punches, central marks, dimensions, mass, and named-issue fabric must agree.

Evidence boundary

What this page does not claim

A fractional accounting relationship does not make all rectangular issues compositionally equivalent.

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Related Edo references

Keicho Ichibukin: One-Bu Rectangular GoldManen Nibukin: Late Tokugawa Two-Bu Gold

Evidence

Sources and scope

These links support the claims on this page. Source authority does not imply permission to republish source images.

Money and Society in the Edo Period: Three-Currency System Bank of Japan Currency Museum

Gold, silver, and copper valuation conventions; Oban, Chogin, and Mameitagin roles.

Open source
Later Edo Gold Recoinages Bank of Japan Currency Museum

Genbun through Manen Koban and Tempo Goryoban display-table masses and fineness values.

Open source