1859–1868 Japan – Ansei Era
1 Bu (Ichibu) Silver | JNDA-09-52 | NGC MS 62
Offered here is a beautiful Ansei 1 Bu (Ichibu) silver coin, issued in Japan during the Ansei era (1854–1860) and struck from 1859 to 1868. Certified NGC MS 62, this is a well-preserved example of the traditional rectangular silver currency used during the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Historical Background
The 1 Bu (Ichibu Gin) was part of Japan's traditional gold-and-silver currency system during the Tokugawa period. Unlike modern round coins, Japanese silver denominations such as the 1 Bu were typically rectangular and carried distinctive Japanese characters and mint markings.
This issue belongs to the Ansei period, when Japan was experiencing enormous political and economic change. Foreign ships and Western powers were increasingly pressuring Japan to open its ports to international trade. The Treaties of Ansei opened Japan to foreign commerce and marked the beginning of the country's rapid transition away from centuries of relative isolation.
The coin was struck during the final decade of the Tokugawa Shogunate, only a few years before the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which ended the shogunate and restored imperial government under Emperor Meiji.
The 1 Bu Gin
The Bu was a fractional denomination within Japan's traditional monetary system. Four Bu were equivalent to one Ryo, making the 1 Bu an important denomination for everyday and commercial transactions.
The rectangular format, Japanese inscriptions, and silver composition are characteristic of Japanese Ichibugin coinage. The Ansei issue is cataloged as JNDA-09-52 and is also commonly referenced as C#16a. Modern references identify the coin as approximately 8.63–8.70 grams of silver, with a silver fineness around .873.
Coin Details
Country: Japan
Period: Ansei Era
Date: 1859–1868
Ruler: Tokugawa Shogunate
Denomination: 1 Bu (Ichibu Gin)
Type: Rectangular Silver Coin
Reference: JNDA-09-52
Metal: Silver
Approx. Silver Fineness: .873
Weight: Approximately 8.6–8.7 grams
Grade: NGC MS 62
Condition: Mint State
Historical Significance
This coin comes from one of the most fascinating periods in Japanese history. It circulated during the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when Japan was moving from a centuries-old feudal monetary system toward the modern nation-state that emerged during the Meiji Restoration.
