Japanese Bar Money

In 1599, Japan issued a rectangular gold piece now known as the Gaku ichibu. This regional issue from Edo blossomed into a 250-year series and branched into more denominations, eventually spilling over into silver pieces in the mid-1700s. These rectangular pieces are sometimes referred to as "bar money" for their unusual bar-like shape. They were minted through 1869, when Japan's old currency system was replaced by the yen.

While an incredibly interesting series, they are also phenomenally difficult to research for English speakers. This website hopes to help fill that gap and will eventually become a book.