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Chōgin 'Gokuyō Chōgin'
| Issuer | Toyotomi Administration (Fushimi Mint) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1592-1595 |
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| Reference(s) | JNDA#09-58 |
| Obverse description | The obverse presents the characteristic elongated oval surface of the chōgin form, covered with parallel horizontal striations impressed across the entire field — a hallmark finishing technique of Japanese silver bullion currency. At each extremity of the oval, a vertically arranged stamp in raised Chinese regular script (kaisho) reads 御公用 (Gokuyō, meaning 'Imperial Public Use'), applied twice in cartouche-form stamps at the upper and lower tips respectively. The overall surface exhibits the typical uneven, hand-finished texture resulting from the casting and burnishing process employed in Momoyama-period silver production. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, regular script) |
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| Additional information |
Produced at the Fushimi Mint under direct Toyotomi authority, the Gokuyō Chōgin was struck specifically to fund the invasions of Korea launched in 1592 and 1597 — campaigns Hideyoshi framed as a corridor to the conquest of Ming China. The name itself, roughly translatable as "offering silver," reflects its origin as a mobilization instrument rather than ordinary commercial currency. These were not minted for market circulation; they were issued to finance logistics, troop provisioning, and the enormous naval infrastructure the campaigns demanded.
The Fushimi Mint operated under tight administrative control during this period, with silver sourced heavily from the extraordinarily productive Iwami Ginzan mines in Shimane.