Japan 2 Shu 'Tenpo Nishukin'
The ryō was a gold currency unit in Japan for some 300 years until the reforms of the Emperor Meiji brought in the yen in 1871. Most of these small coins or bars were minted by local magnates, but were exchangeable from region to region. We now have in stock a small number of these 2 shu “Tenpo Nishukin” which were issued between 1832 and 1858, mainly during the reign of Emperor Ninko. They are .298 gold and on the obverse we can see the paulownia emblem representing the Imperial Family of Japan above the denomination.