Cast in 1633 under King Injo, this issue emerged from a Korea still recovering from the devastating Japanese invasions of the 1590s and the subsequent Manchu incursions. Mun cash coins of this period circulated fitfully — Korea's economy remained stubbornly barter-based for much of the 17th century, and repeated government attempts to force coin use into daily commerce met persistent resistance from a population that simply preferred grain and cloth as exchange media.
KM#5 is among the earlier standardized cast issues from the Hojo (Board of Taxation) mints, though attribution among early Joseon cash types requires careful attention to reverse mint marks.
Cast in 1633 under King Injo, this issue emerged from a Korea still recovering from the devastating Japanese invasions of the 1590s and the subsequent Manchu incursions. Mun cash coins of this period circulated fitfully — Korea's economy remained stubbornly barter-based for much of the 17th century, and repeated government attempts to force coin use into daily commerce met persistent resistance from a population that simply preferred grain and cloth as exchange media.
KM#5 is among the earlier standardized cast issues from the Hojo (Board of Taxation) mints, though attribution among early Joseon cash types requires careful attention to reverse mint marks.