The "Ho" designation on Joseon mun coinage indicates the issuing office — in this case the Hojo, the Board of Revenue — one of several competing government bureaus authorized to strike cash coins during the mid-nineteenth century as the dynasty scrambled to fund chronic fiscal shortfalls. The "Dark" attribution refers to the alloy color, a Korean collector convention distinguishing batches by copper purity and surface tone rather than a formal mint designation. By 1852, the Joseon monetary system was badly fragmented, with dozens of office-specific varieties circulating simultaneously, their relative values determined as much by weight and color as by any official policy.
The "Ho" designation on Joseon mun coinage indicates the issuing office — in this case the Hojo, the Board of Revenue — one of several competing government bureaus authorized to strike cash coins during the mid-nineteenth century as the dynasty scrambled to fund chronic fiscal shortfalls. The "Dark" attribution refers to the alloy color, a Korean collector convention distinguishing batches by copper purity and surface tone rather than a formal mint designation. By 1852, the Joseon monetary system was badly fragmented, with dozens of office-specific varieties circulating simultaneously, their relative values determined as much by weight and color as by any official policy.