Ichibu

The Ichibu silver coin was frequently struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a practical adaptation that reflected Japan's pragmatic approach to foreign silver during the late Edo period.

This made it a key part of the mon currency system, valued at one bu or a quarter of a ryo. Designs varied, but most featured the imperial chrysanthemum on one side and inscriptions indicating the era and value on the other. Minters in Edo and other sites hammered these by hand, resulting in coins that often show irregular edges and subtle variations.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era were haphazardly kept, and many were destroyed in later conflicts. Still, the Ichibu circulated widely for trade and daily use until the Meiji reforms phased it out.

Collectors sometimes overlook how these coins embodied Japan's isolationist policies, blending necessity with tradition. As for myths, I've heard enough about "cursed" specimens to last a lifetime—most were just well-worn from pocket change.