Edo Period, Anonymous (Time of Shogun Iyemochi, 1858-1866)

Ôban n.d., Manen Era (1860-1862), Kyoto. On a Tagane pattern (striations), four Kiri (paulownia) punches, and ink inscription: "Ten Ryô" and signature (kao) of mint official Gotô Tenjô / Three large punches (Kiri (paulownia), framed Kiri, and Gotô family signature punch). At bottom left, three small Mint Master stamps in order of "Tai An Kichi" (the most auspicious day). 112,96g. 13,4cm x 7,9cm., Fr. 7; JNDA 09-10; KM C# 24a.1; Standard Catalogue of Japanese Coins, ed. 2021, 02-10.

Original and unrestored ink. Extremely fine and very rare.

Albert Richard Brown (1839-1913) Collection.
Baldwin’s Auction 60 (7 April 2016), 832.

This precious coin was brought back to England from Japan by Albert Richard Brown (1839-1913), an English-born captain in the merchant navy, who is now regarded by Japanese society as a founder of the modern Japanese shipping industry.

The Ôban was an especially large gift piece intended to be presented by the Shogun. The unit of "Ten Ryô" inscribed on Ôban was the unit of weight instead of the price value. The Ryô was a denomination for a gold coinage which varied in value throughout the Edo period. However, a 10 Ryô valued Ôban was not equal to ten times the value of a 1 Ryô Koban (circulation gold coin). The exchange rate between Ôban and Koban changed with each era. For example, at the beginning of the 17th century, 1 Ôban was exchangeable with 7 Koban, but at the end of the Edo period 1 Ôban was worth more than 20 Koban.