504 TRADE AND COMMERCE. 



The Imperial mint in Osaka, from which this money is issued, 

 was among the first and best innovations which were made soon 

 after the deposition of the Shogunate. It was built under the very 

 capable direction of an EngHshman, Major T. W. Kinder, arranged 

 after English model, and opened on the 4th of August, 1871. The 

 European patterns were closely followed in the circular form of 

 the new coins. The impressions are not at all behind those of the 

 best European coins in respect to clearness and other requirements. 

 They are bordered and milled, and show on both sides the various 

 emblems and arms of the country, viz., the rising sun, the chrysan- 

 themum blossom, the Kiri- and the Awoi-mon (see vol. i. p. 317), 

 the dragon, and the legends in Chinese characters, together with 

 the value, generally in Roman letters and Arabic figures. During 

 the five years, 1870-187 5, in which Major Kinder had charge of 

 the institution, 136,885,541 coins, with a value of 62,421,744 Yen, 

 were stamped at the Mint. Kinder conducted also the analysis 

 and refining processes, and united with the Mint a sulphuric acid 

 and nitric acid factory, whereby the further importation of two 

 important requirements of the chemical industry became un- 

 necessary. 



Paper money, or Kin-satsu, which has been known in Japan 

 since the 14th century, is now issued of the respective values 

 of 10, 20, and 50 Sen, as well as of i, 2, 5, and more Yen, corre- 

 sponding to the several gold coins. This was effected by means of 

 lithographs from Dondorf's establishment in Frankfort-on-the-Main, 

 which had for a while turned out satisfactorily the new Kin-satsu. 

 Besides the national treasury notes, the Government allowed paper 

 money to be issued by many of the banks that sprang into 

 existence about this time. 



Until 1870, there were in use Zeni (Sen), or small coins made of 

 iron, copper, bronze ; Gin-su or silver pieces, and Kin-ka or gold 

 pieces, besides various paper bills ; all differing in shape and ap- 

 pearance from one another, and from the coins used at the present 

 time. There were pieces : — 



a. Of Iron (Tetsu). 



1. Ichi Mon, i Mon = o"oi Sen or about 0*004 pence. 



2. Shi „ 4 „ = 0-04 „ „ o'ooS „ 



b. Of Bronze (Kara-kane) OR Copper (Aka-gane). 



3. Ju Mon, 10 Mon = o'lo Sen, or about 0-04, pence. 



4. Ju-go„ 15 „ = 0-15 „ ' „ o-o6' „ 



5. Ni-ju „ 20 „ = 0-20 „ „ o-o8 „ 



