4 Mon "Bunky?eih?" Simplified h?; ???? Features Country Japan Type Standard circulation coin Years 1863-1868 Value 4 Mon (0.001) Currency Ry? (1601-1867) Composition Copper (cast) Diameter 27 mm Shape Round with a square hole Orientation Medal alignment ?? Demonetized 1954 References C# 6b, DHJ# 5.19+20 Obverse Inscription Lettering: ?? ??? ?? Translation: Eternal Money of the Bunky? Era Engraver: Matsudaira Yoshinga Reverse Eleven waves Comments In the 2nd month of the 3rd year of Bunky?, a copper coin with the inscription Bunky?eih? was put into circulation. These coins were mostly made out of the old one mon coins, thus their alloy does not contain zinc. The coin was intended to replace the unpopular iron Kan'eits?h? 4 Mon, however, people used the coin by compared value to iron 1 Mon coin. In 1865, Bunky?eih? was 8 Mon (while Brass Kan'eits?h? 4 Mon worth 12 Mon), and in 1867 Bunky?eih? was 15~16 Mon (while Brass Kan'eis?h? 4 Mon worth 20~24 Mon). The Bunkyu Eiho was the last of the traditional cast cash coins to be introduced. In 1868, the minting machinery that had been in use in Hong Kong was brought to Osaka, and by 1870 machine struck gold, silver, and copper yen and sen coins had started to be made. Bunky?eih? had been used for, generally, 1.5 Rin (0.0015 Yen) until the law of demonetizing old currencies came into effect in 1954. This Simplified h? type was casted at Kosuge. Mintage is included in C# 6