Japanese Mon demonetisation in 1954?

N#121571

Could someone provide a source for this date? It seems strange to have a coin from the 1600's still be legal tender up until the 1950's.

I don't have information about the date, but I can see Japan demonetizing some previous currency in 1954, realizing there was no formal demonetization of even older coinage, and adding those coins to the proclamation.

These are my amateur translations. 

From "天保通宝鑑識と手引" (“Tenpō Tsūhō Kanshiki to Tebiki” or “Insight and Guide to Tenpō Tsūhō” by 小川吉儀著 (Yoshinori Ogawa) 1973, when discussing the end of Tenpō Tsūhō circulation he says:
又一文、四文、文久銭等は昭和の半ば迄公用貨であったに対して、通用期間は既に明治二十四年で打ち切られている。
In addition, one mon, four mon, and Bunkyū coins were still accepted as the official coins until the middle of the Showa era, however their official circulation period was already cut off at Meiji 24 [1891]. 

But from the 2015 JNDA it seems to say circulation on Kan'ei Tsuhō was Meiji 2 [1869].  However a few pages later when discussing imported "cash coins" it has:
明治政府新貨幣制度の制定に際し、渡来銭、輪入銭の一部を一厘として使用を認めましたので、昭和初期の廃貨に至るまで、納税代金などとしてその命を保ちました。
When the Meiji government's new monetary system was established, allowed was the use of some of the Toraisen and Yunyūsen at a value of 1 rin, so they kept their lives for tax and other payments until the early Showa period.

It suggests to me that for certain payments the old money was still collected in order to remove it from circulation and drive people to the new monetary system.  But I can not see how imported coins are still accepted when native Kan'ei are not accepted.

I look forward to other replies on this topic.

For completeness, here is what Ogawa says for the 100 mon Tenpō Tsūhō.

明治十七年十月二日通用期限を同十九年十二月末日と発令されたが、同二十四年十二月三十一日迄延期された。
On the date of October 2 of the year Meiji 17 [1884], the end of this circulation period was to be the last day of December in the year Meiji 19 [1886], but this was postponed until December 31 of Meiji 24 [1891].

明治二十五年一月の発令で同二十九年十二月三十一日限り引換停止廃貨となって、一代を終る。
With the proclamation of January of Meiji 25, the currency would [now] be suspended for exchange on December 31 of Meiji 29 [1896], thus ending the life [of the 100 mon Tenpō Tsūhō coin].

To be more clear about these translations, I start with Google but edit based on context and acquired knowledge of coin-specific kanji, the material in [ ] are my own additions.  More difficult passages are checked by my wife, a native speaker.  But I want to point out I am not a native speaker and you are free to check the content on your own.

Mini-Munten-Man,

I believe I have a reliable reference for 1953.

The Japanese Mint released a report on April 9, 2003 entitled “造幣局のあゆみ 改訂版II 造幣125年のあゆみ” or “History of the Japanese Mint Revised Edition II - 125 Years of Minting History”.

On Page 38 it reads as follows:

なお、江戸時代の天保通宝は8厘銭、寛永通宝は4して、新貨条例制定後も流通した。天保通宝はやがて回収されたが、その他は法的には昭和28(1953)年まで通貨として通用した。
Note that the Edo period Tenpō Tsūhō was 8 rin and Kan'ei Tsūhō was 4 [rin, i.e. they were converted to the new currency unit rin based on weight of the coin and not by the face value in mon], and they circulated even after the enactment of the New Currency Ordinance.  The Tenpō Tsūhō was eventually collected, but the others were legally accepted as currency until Showa 28 (1953).

(As above, the text in [  ] is by me based on context.)

I proposed a modification to the Kan'ei Tsūhō page.
 

fairfield

Mini-Munten-Man,

 

I believe I have a reliable reference for 1953.

The Japanese Mint released a report on April 9, 2003 entitled “造幣局のあゆみ 改訂版II 造幣125年のあゆみ” or “History of the Japanese Mint Revised Edition II - 125 Years of Minting History”.

 

On Page 38 it reads as follows:

なお、江戸時代の天保通宝は8厘銭、寛永通宝は4して、新貨条例制定後も流通した。天保通宝はやがて回収されたが、その他は法的には昭和28(1953)年まで通貨として通用した。
Note that the Edo period Tenpō Tsūhō was 8 rin and Kan'ei Tsūhō was 4 [rin, i.e. they were converted to the new currency unit rin based on weight of the coin and not by the face value in mon], and they circulated even after the enactment of the New Currency Ordinance.  The Tenpō Tsūhō was eventually collected, but the others were legally accepted as currency until Showa 28 (1953).

 

(As above, the text in [  ] is by me based on context.)

 

I proposed a modification to the Kan'ei Tsūhō page.
 

Thanks for the information fairfield! Really appreciate the in-depth research you did to find us an answer 😄

Now I’ve just gotta work on collecting all those coins you mentioned… 🤔

You are welcome Mini-Munten-Man.

But as is often the case I made an error typing in the Japanese text.  Here is the correction, but the date of 1953 does not change.

なお、江戸時代の天保通宝は8厘銭、寛永通宝は4文銭が2厘銭、1文銭が1厘銭、文久通宝は1厘半銭として、新貨条例制定後も流通した。天保通宝はやがて回収されたが、その他は法的には昭和28(1953)年まで通貨として通用した。
Note that the Edo period Tempō Tsūhō [100 mon] was 8 rin, Kan'ei Tsūhō 4 mon was 2 rin, [Kan'ei Tsūhō] 1 mon was 1 rin, and Bunkyū Tsūhō [another 4 mon coin] was 1 rin and a half, and they circulated even after the enactment of the New Currency Ordinance. Tempō Tsūhō was eventually collected, but the others were legally accepted as currency until Showa 28 (1953).

My remark about coin weight still has some support.

Based only on the Tempō Tsūhō with 100 mon face value and weight of 20.62gm to 21.75gm, and the Kan'ei Tsūhō with 4 mon face value and weight of 4.88gm, the mon coins were converted to the new currency unit of rin based more on the weight of the coin than on the face value in mon.  But this rough rule did not hold for the 1 mon Kan'ei Tsūhō at 3.75gm or the 4 mon Bunkyū Tsūhō, that I guess was about 3.3gm but I do not know for sure.
 

fairfield

You are welcome Mini-Munten-Man.

 

But as is often the case I made an error typing in the Japanese text.  Here is the correction, but the date of 1953 does not change.

 

なお、江戸時代の天保通宝は8厘銭、寛永通宝は4文銭が2厘銭、1文銭が1厘銭、文久通宝は1厘半銭として、新貨条例制定後も流通した。天保通宝はやがて回収されたが、その他は法的には昭和28(1953)年まで通貨として通用した。
Note that the Edo period Tempō Tsūhō [100 mon] was 8 rin, Kan'ei Tsūhō 4 mon was 2 rin, [Kan'ei Tsūhō] 1 mon was 1 rin, and Bunkyū Tsūhō [another 4 mon coin] was 1 rin and a half, and they circulated even after the enactment of the New Currency Ordinance. Tempō Tsūhō was eventually collected, but the others were legally accepted as currency until Showa 28 (1953).

 

My remark about coin weight still has some support.

 

Based only on the Tempō Tsūhō with 100 mon face value and weight of 20.62gm to 21.75gm, and the Kan'ei Tsūhō with 4 mon face value and weight of 4.88gm, the mon coins were converted to the new currency unit of rin based more on the weight of the coin than on the face value in mon.  But this rough rule did not hold for the 1 mon Kan'ei Tsūhō at 3.75gm or the 4 mon Bunkyū Tsūhō, that I guess was about 3.3gm but I do not know for sure.
 

That’s alright,  it was still very insightful and the only way to learn from mistakes is to make them in the first place 😉

Thanks again! I’ll definitely post any future questions on Japanese coins to this forum.

Mini-Munten-Man

N#121571

 

Could someone provide a source for this date? It seems strange to have a coin from the 1600's still be legal tender up until the 1950's.

Could happen, Just look how long the English pound was technically around :P 

even the double florin of the 1880s was never demonetised and is still legal tender (albeit you'd be mad to spend one)