Bunkyu Eiho (4 Mon) | Authentic Japanese Antique Coin

Description

Bunkyu Eiho was introduced by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1863 during the final years of the Edo period. Officially valued at four mon, it was issued in response to severe economic hardship and growing inflation during the Bakumatsu period.

As repeated crop failures, shortages of precious metals, and political instability weakened the shogunate, the government reduced the intrinsic metal value of its coinage while maintaining its face value. Bunkyu Eiho became one of the defining coins of these monetary reforms and reflects the economic turmoil of late Edo Japan.

Its traditional round shape with a square center hole follows centuries of Japanese coinage, while the inscription “永寶” (“Eiho,” meaning “Eternal Treasure”) reflects the symbolic naming conventions often used on East Asian coins.

Today, Bunkyu Eiho is appreciated not only as a historic currency but also as a tangible reminder of Japan’s transition from the Tokugawa shogunate to the modern Meiji era, making it an excellent addition to any collection of Japanese antique coins.

Every coin we offer is carefully sourced from the Japanese antique coin market and professionally inspected for authenticity before being offered for sale.