Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties 2,690 works catalogued

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Important Cultural Property

Coins (Kaiki Shōhō)

開基勝宝
Coins (Kaiki Shōhō) (開基勝宝)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Metalwork · Nara period, 8th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category
Metalwork
Date
701–800
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-74420

Find more

These are the oldest gold coins in Japan. According to the exchange rate at the time, ten bronze coins equaled one silver coin, and ten silver coins equaled one gold coin.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Coins (Kaiki Shōhō)(開基勝宝).” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-74420. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/coins-kaiki-sh-h/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Category: Historical materials:Coins
  • Genre: Metalwork
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Material: Cast gold
  • 員数: 31枚
  • 分類: 金工
  • 種別: 歴史資料:銭貨類
  • 品質形状: 金 鋳造

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