ōban
coin
Quick Summary
The ōban was a large, oval Japanese gold coin used from the 16th to the 19th centuries. These coins varied in size and weight. Japan began minting coins in AD 708, influenced by China. After a period where grain and cloth were used as currency, imported Chinese coins and local imitations circulated. Japan has minted gold and silver coins since the 16th century. The largest gold coin was the ōban, with a smaller version called the koban.12
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