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Japanese Banknotes

The Hansatsu scripts were issued during the Edo period by the feudal domains.
The scripts below were probably issued between 1854 and 1860.

Hansatsu script
Sendai domain
金壹 1 unit of gold
5x15.5cm
Hansatsu script
Sendai domain
弐朱 2 Shu
5x15.5cm


The Dajokan-Satsu were the first national currency of the Meiji era, issued by the Dajokan in July, 1868.

1 Ryo = 4 Bu
1 Bu = 4 Shu
The hole at the top of the banknote seems to be a standard feature of these bills.

The references S164, etc, are from the book Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues, by George S. Cuhaj, 11th edition, 2009, p.727 ff.

Dajokan-Satsu gold note
慶應 辰 Keio dragon = 1868
金壹兩 gold 1 Ryo
S164
4.2x13.2cm
Dajokan-Satsu gold note
Meiji snake = 1869
金壹分 gold 1 Bu
S163
3.9x10.2cm
Dajokan-Satsu gold note
Meiji snake = 1869
金壹朱 gold 1 Shu
S162
3.8x9.0cm


This is a 10 sen note issued by the Hokkaido Development Board and refundable at Mitsui Bank. Hokkaido is Japan's large northern Island which Japan claimed in 1868, appropriating it from the indigenous Ainu people, and began developing soon after. This bill was issued in 1872 to help fund the project of sending settlers to develop the Island. (Information kindly provided by Luke Roberts).
Hokkaido Development Board
1872
10 Sen
P1
3.4x7.7cm


Japanese Imperial Governement currency
1872
10 Sen
P1
5.4x8.9cm
大日本帝國 政府 Japanese Imperial Government
軍用手票 Bill for military use
Meiji 37 = 1904
20 Sen (貮拾錢) -- no serial n# on back
P-M2b
7.0x10.2cm

Japanese Imperial Government Currency
Meiji 40 = 1907
20 Sen (貳拾錢)
P15
9.2x5.7cm

Japanese Imperial Government Currency
Taisho 10 = 1922
10 Sen (貳錢) Block-378
P46c
3.9x10.2cm

1 Yen = 100 Sen