Samurai Katana Signed Kaneuji Around 1680. With a Pair of Edo Ni Bu Ban Kin Rectangular ‘Bar’ Gold Coin Menuki

All original edo mounts and urushi lacquer saya. Very fine Edo fuchi kashira well executed high reliefs of arabesque vines or karakusa This style of carving is named Mino-bori it has withing the design a kiri clan mon of the empress tree, it was the Toyotomi clan, and the sword has matching kiri clan kamon of a pair of edo period 2 Bubankin gold coins. The Kiri-mon (paulownia patterns) is a generic name for Monsho (crests or coats of arms) that are based on paulownia. It is also called Toka-mon. Since it was incused on money such as koban (former Japanese oval gold coin) after Muromachi period. Tetsu gold inlaid Bushu school tsuba.

The blade is at present being conserved polished and cleaned due to surface discolouration.

The original Edo period urushi lacquer on the saya is in simply excellent condition and shows most elegant simplicity, yet a most intricate patterning in the black lacquer. it reveals within that simplicity the finest craftsmanship and beauty worthy of a master of the art of urushi decor. Japanese lacquer, or urushi, is a transformative and highly prized material that has been refined for over 7000 years.

Cherished for its infinite versatility, urushi is a distinctive art form that has spread across all facets of Japanese culture from the tea ceremony to the saya scabbards of samurai swords

Japanese artists created their own style and perfected the art of decorated lacquerware during the 8th century. Japanese lacquer skills reached its peak as early as the twelfth century, at the end of the Heian period (794-1185). This skill was passed on from father to son and from master to apprentice.

The first rectangular gold coin was the Ichibu Ban Kin, or One Bu Size Gold, introduced in 1599. This was long before any of the other forms of Japanese bar money, and it’s uncertain why it originated. Regardless, it circulated all the way through 1869 with a whopping 16 different varieties.

However, the overall design remained consistent throughout the years. Both sides are bordered by raised dots, and the obverse reads “Ichibu” (One Bu), with Kiri crests above and below. These crests represent the flower of the Paulownia tree, the symbol of the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan. The reverse features the signature of Mitsutsugu.

Over the years, they became smaller and were debased, from 85.7% to 57.4% gold. Even with such a long mintage, all varieties of these coins are rare today. Released in 1818, the Ni Bu Ban Kin (Two Bu Size Gold) was intended to make commerce easier. Most of the Koban coins in circulation by that point were broken, and this thicker, stronger rectangular coin was meant to replace them. Damaged Koban coins could be converted for free, provided they weren’t missing too much of their gold content.

However, people were not satisfied. The Ni Bu Ban Kin consisted of lower quality gold and was generally seen as a less reliable coin, so they didn’t see wide circulation. They started with 56.3% gold but were debased to only 22.3% by 1868.

In design, they are almost to the Ichibu Ban Kin. They are larger, of course, and have the denomination “Ni Bu” inscribed on the obverse, but all other elements are the same.

Code: 24373