TOYOKORO, JAPAN GIVES GOLD OBAN COIN TO SISTER CITY

The municipality has received a historic fine gold coin from representatives of Toyokoro, Japan during a sister city delegation visit.

Over the past week, students and dignitaries from Summerland's sister city of Toyokoro were in Summerland for an exchange during the past week. In fall, a Summerland delegation will visit Toyokoro.

On Monday evening, at the municipal council meeting, Mayor Janice Perrino received the Tensho Oban coin from Manabu Saitoh, Toyokoro's chief financial officer.

The coin was minted in 1588. It is an oval coin with a fine gold content of 70 to 74 per cent and it weights around 165 grams.

The coin was created by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japan's most powerful feudal lord in the late 16th century. Hideyoshi minted a series of gold and slver coins from 1573 to 1592.

The coin is stamped with emblems of paulownia on both sides as a guarantee of its quality. Its weight and the name and signature of the mint official were written on the coin in black ink calligraphy.

The coin was rarely exchanged in daily transactions. instead, it was given as a reward or gift to the Imperial Family, aristocrats or samurai warriors. It was also used as a form of currency as merchants who imported silk and porcelain from China accepted the coin as a means of payment.

Mayor Janice Perrino receives a Tensho Oban gold coin from Fumito Miyake, left and Manabu Saitoh of Toyokoro, Japan. The 165-gram coin, minted in 1588, is traditionally given as a reward or gift to the Imperial Family, aristocrats or samurai warriors.

To read the complete article, see: Ceremonial coin presented (www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/summerlandreview
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Wayne Homren, Editor

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