I have quite a few of these now in my attempt to clarify the more than forty varieties that exist. Most variances have to do with script style, size, and placement. This rare example is larger than the average size and weight of those typical varieties. It's 41 x 3.5 mm and weighs 33.17 grams, when an average example is 24 grams in weight. The robustness of this piece is seen even in the photo. About 160,000 of the 100 Mun, of all types, were cast in just a few months of 1866-67. Coinciding with economic forces that pervaded China, Korea, Japan and Okinawa, these inflationary types were cast as a reaction to these influences. In the case for Korea, the excuse for this economically calamitous experiment, was the need to raise funds to rebuild the main palace in Seoul and to modernize and equip their forces in preparation to allow foreigners into the country under trade pressures. Be sure to see some of my other examples here. This one was never used as a grind stone washer. It's unlikely to be a contemporary counterfeit because those tend to be lighter, not heavier, than the average of 26 grams.
Sang P'yong T'ong Bo, Hojo Treasury Department
Korea, ca 1866. Obverse Image: Four Chinese characters read top, bottom, right, left Obverse Text: Romanization: SANG / P'YONG / T'ONG / BO (Translation: Always Even Currency). Reverse Image: Character for Hojo Treasury Department at top, denomination read right, left, bottom. Reverse Text: Romanization: HO / TANG / BAE / CHON (Translation: Character for Hojo Treasury Department, worth one hundred).
Finally! An excellent work on Korean coins in English. It also describes the entire history of Korea in relation to their coinage. Past erroneous information is corrected and details of varieties are clearly illustrated. This is an amazing resource for numismatists and collectors. I thank Calvin Taehun Jin at Arirang Numismatics, and you will too. Read and Free Download "Coinage of Late Modern Korea" at this: https://arirangnumismatics.wordpress.com/coinage-in-late-modern-korea/
VIEW & DOWNLOAD Korean Coin and Charm Articles:
A Survey of Korean Coins - Joseph E. Boling: Korea - A Numismatic Survey - Boling
Korean Charms and Amulets - Starr
https://groups.io/g/Moneta/files/Moneta%20Library/Korean%20Charms%20&%20Amulets%20-%20Starr.pdf
German Coin Techniques in Korea - Won Yu-Han
German Coin Techinques in Korea - Won Yu-Han
Rulers of Korea
Rulers of Korea
Picture Album of 100 Korean Amulets
https://groups.io/g/Moneta/files/Moneta%20Library/Picture%20Album%20of%20100%20Korean%20Amulets%20-%20Greenbaum.pdf
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