Japanese Oban
OriginJapan
First Minted1591
MaterialGold
TypeCoin
About Japanese Oban
A very large oval gold coin, worth 10 koban. Given as gifts to daimyo and samurai rather than used in commerce. Featured elaborate calligraphy certifying the weight and fineness. Only a few hundred oban were made each year. Today fewer than 200 survive. The oban is one of the largest gold coins ever issued for circulation, though most were presentation pieces. Each oban was individually made and unique in weight and appearance.
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