By hannover-web.com Recently, a fascinating discovery has emerged from Kyoto, Japan, where a significant haul of ceramic coins, originally intended for disposal, has been unearthed. These unique pieces of currency, known as “tohachi,” were produced about 80 years ago in response to wartime shortages.
According to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun, the Japan Mint announced that an impressive 500,000 ceramic coins were found in a warehouse near the remnants of a manufacturing plant in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. This marks the first time such a large quantity of these coins has been discovered since their non-circulation post-war.
The Japan Mint began exploring the production of ceramic coins around 1944 due to the diversion of copper and aluminum, the primary materials typically used for minting, for military needs. By 1945, private factories in urban areas such as Seto City in Aichi Prefecture and Arita Town in Saga Prefecture were commissioned to produce these ceramic coins, totaling approximately 15 million pieces. However, following the war, as metal supplies stabilized, the Japanese government ordered these coins to be voided before their official release. Consequently, only a small number made their way into circulation, with most now displayed in museums across the country.
The ceramic coins recently uncovered carry a face value of “1 sen,” measuring about 1.5 centimeters in diameter, with Mt. Fuji depicted on one side and cherry blossoms on the other. They were initially found in a wooden box within the warehouse of a dental supply company named Matsukaze. The company contacted the Japan Mint last August to return this rare collection of ceramic coins, contributing to this historical rekindling of an unusual chapter in Japanese currency.
