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.
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.