Japanese mon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The mon (文?) was a currency of Japan until 1870, as there were hundreds of different styles of currency thorought Japanese history, of many shapes, styles, designs, sizes, and materials, including gold, silver, bronze, etc. Even rice was once a currency, the koku. The mon resembled and was derived from the Chinese wen (cf. Korean mun). Coins denominated in mon were cast in copper or iron and circulated alongside silver and gold ingots denominated in shu, bu and ryo, with 16 shu = 4 bu = 1 ryo. The yen replaced these denominations in 1870. Multiple mon could be strung on a length of string, much like the modern five or fifty yen pieces.
 This currency-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
