2 Mun Hun, Moon

The "Hun" (訓) mintmark identifies this piece as a product of the Hullyeondogam, the Military Training Command in Seoul, one of several government offices authorized to strike cash coins during the mid-eighteenth century to relieve chronic copper shortages in the Joseon monetary system. The two-mun denomination was introduced in 1742 specifically to stretch the coin supply — a single piece nominally worth twice the standard mun but containing considerably less than double the metal.

Joseon's experiment with fiduciary bronze coinage never fully convinced a skeptical public accustomed to commodity-valued currency, and hoarding remained widespread throughout the decade this type was struck.