1 Mon 'Hakodate-tsūhō'

The Hakodate Bugyōsho issued this iron mon in direct response to the forced opening of Hakodate as a treaty port under the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854. With foreign ships now legally docking and local commerce suddenly expanding, the existing coin supply was simply inadequate. The magistrate's office received authorization to strike locally rather than wait on Edo — an unusual delegation of minting authority that reflects how isolated and strategically urgent Hakodate's position was during those years.

Iron was chosen over copper due to chronic copper shortages already straining the central mint system.