Coins and Antiquities Consignment Shop
  10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities 10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Internet Challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958 Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!!

×Catalog Main Menu
Fine Coins Showcase

Antiquities Showcase
New & Reduced


Show Empty Categories
Shop Search
Shopping Cart
My FORVM
Contact Us
About Forum
Shopping at Forum
Our Guarantee
Payment Options
Shipping Options & Fees
Privacy & Security
Forum Staff
Selling Your Coins
Identifying Your Coin
FAQs
zoom.asp
   View Categories
Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Asian Coins| ▸ |Korea||View Options:  |  |  |   

Coins of Korea

The history of Korean currency dates back around 3rd century B.C., when knife coins, known as "Myeongdojun" circulated in the state of Yan and Gojoseon. The first iron and bronze coins were minted in Korea during the 15th year of the reign of King Seonjeong (996 A.D.). During the reign of King Sukjong, 1097 - 1107, a monetary system with a variety of cast coins was established. These coins included the Dongguk (Eastern Country), Haedong (Eastern Sea) and Samhan (Three States) coin series. Coins cast in copper and silver vase-shaped coins (unbyŏng) were issued in the 10th and 11th century but their circulation was limited. It was not until the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty (founded in 1392) that copper coins were minted for wide circulation. Soon after, however, Jeohwa, the first legal paper money, which was made from mulberry-bark, replaced metal coinage. Coins would not be issued again until early in the 16th century. Throughout this time imported Chinese coins also circulated, and grain and linen were used as commodity currencies. In the 17th century, coinage finally became the primary medium of exchange and twenty-four mints were established across Korea. From 1633 until 1892, coins denominated in mun and bearing the inscription Sang Pyeong Tong Bo were the most widely circulated currency.

Korea, Choson (Yi) Dynasty, 1392 - 1910

|Korea|, |Korea,| |Choson| |(Yi)| |Dynasty,| |1392| |-| |1910||1| |mun|
Beginning in 1633 A.D., during the reign of King Injo, the famine relief "Stabilization Office" (Sangpyongchong) began to cast coins using the first two characters of the office name (sang pyong) in the inscription (sang pyong tong bo), meaning "always even universal currency." Sang pyong tong bo coins were cast from 1633 to 1891 and circulated for over 300 years. Numerous government offices and military mints produced the coins as a source of funding, and many were also privately cast. The places indicated by the mintmark were not necessarily the actual mint; they were offices granted the right of coinage. They may have been minted for the office at another location.
KO110411. Copper 1 mun, Velde-Hartill type 20.1.2, SCWC KM 175, CKCB 18.262, Craig LCC 20, aVF, light deposits and encrustations, mold error on rev. on Hye (3 straight lines), weight 3.218 g, maximum diameter 24.42 mm, die axis 0o, Seoul, Board of Revenue mint, 1806; obverse Sang Pyong Tong Bo (always even universal currency), one dot tong, hooks on pyong; reverse Hye (Rice and Cloth Department) mintmark above, Sam (three) below; SOLD


Korea, Choson (Yi) Dynasty, 1392 - 1910

|Korea|, |Korea,| |Choson| |(Yi)| |Dynasty,| |1392| |-| |1910||1| |mun|
Beginning in 1633 A.D., during the reign of King Injo, the famine relief "Stabilization Office" (Sangpyongchong) began to cast coins using the first two characters of the office name (sang pyong) in the inscription (sang pyong tong bo), meaning "always even universal currency." Sang pyong tong bo coins were cast from 1633 to 1891 and circulated for over 300 years. Numerous government offices and military mints produced the coins as a source of funding, and many were also privately cast. The places indicated by the mintmark were not necessarily the actual mint; they were offices granted the right of coinage. They may have been minted for the office at another location.
KO110413. Copper 1 mun, cf. Velde-Hartill type 28.17.2, SCWC KM 466, CKCB 18.323, Craig LCC 6, F, earthen deposits, weight 4.723 g, maximum diameter 24.8 mm, die axis 0o, Seoul, Board of Revenue mint, 1832; obverse Sang Pyong Tong Bo (always even universal currency), one dot tong, hooks on pyong; reverse Hun (Military Training Command) mintmark above, [..] (issue number) left, Won (first) below; SOLD


Korea, Choson (Yi) Dynasty, 1392 - 1910

|Korea|, |Korea,| |Choson| |(Yi)| |Dynasty,| |1392| |-| |1910||1| |mun|
Beginning in 1633 A.D., during the reign of King Injo, the famine relief "Stabilization Office" (Sangpyongchong) began to cast coins using the first two characters of the office name (sang pyong) in the inscription (sang pyong tong bo), meaning "always even universal currency." Sang pyong tong bo coins were cast from 1633 to 1891 and circulated for over 300 years. Numerous government offices and military mints produced the coins as a source of funding and many were also privately cast. The reverse of the earliest coins was blank, later reverses indicate the mint and other issue information. There are perhaps more than 5,000 varieties.
KO87040. Copper 1 mun, Velde-Hartill type 28, SCWC KM 448 ff. (all 1828 and 1857 series), Craig LCC 6, weight c. 4.55 g, maximum diameter c. 23.5 mm, Hullyondogam (Military Training Command) mint, c. 1828 - 1866; obverse Sang Pyong Tong Bo (always even universal currency); reverse Hun (Hullyondogam) mintmark above, additional characters below and left; aF or better with legible mintmark, quality and patina varies, some with minor flaws, bumps, scratches, encrustations, similar to the coins in the photograph, ONE COIN; SOLD Out of Stock!


Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), 2002

|Asia|, |Democratic| |People's| |Republic| |of| |Korea| |(North| |Korea),| |2002||1/2| |chon|
FAO is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
WO91884. Aluminum 1/2 chon, SCWC KM193, UNC, weight 2.182 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, die axis 0o, Pyongyang mint, 2002; obverse XXI CENTURY FAO FOOD SECURITY 2002, train right, 1/2 Chon below; reverse Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (in Korean), North Korean national coat of arms, 2002 below; SOLD


Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), 2002

|Asia|, |Democratic| |People's| |Republic| |of| |Korea| |(North| |Korea),| |2002||1/2| |chon|
World of Animals Series - Leopard.
WO91885. Aluminum 1/2 chon, SCWC KM193, UNC, weight 2.195 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, Pyongyang mint, 2002; obverse leopard laying right, 1/2 Chon (in Korean) below; reverse Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (in Korean), North Korean national coat of arms, 2002 below; SOLD


Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), 2002

|Asia|, |Democratic| |People's| |Republic| |of| |Korea| |(North| |Korea),| |2002||1/2| |chon|
FAO is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
WO91886. Aluminum 1/2 chon, SCWC KM192, UNC, weight 2.215 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, die axis 0o, Pyongyang mint, 2002; obverse XXI CENTURY FAO FOOD SECURITY 2002, galley right, 1/2 Chon (in Korean) below; reverse Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (in Korean), North Korean national coat of arms, 2002 below; SOLD


Korea, Choson (Yi) Dynasty, 1392 - 1910

|Korea|, |Korea,| |Choson| |(Yi)| |Dynasty,| |1392| |-| |1910||1| |mun|
Beginning in 1633 A.D., during the reign of King Injo, the famine relief "Stabilization Office" (Sangpyongchong) began to cast coins using the first two characters of the office name (sang pyong) in the inscription (sang pyong tong bo), meaning "always even universal currency." Sang pyong tong bo coins were cast from 1633 to 1891 and circulated for over 300 years. Numerous government offices and military mints produced the coins as a source of funding, and many were also privately cast. The places indicated by the mintmark were not necessarily the actual mint; they were offices granted the right of coinage. They may have been minted for the office at another location.
KO93016. Copper 1 mun, Velde-Hartill 13.2A.14, SCWC KM 10.14, CKCB 18.284, VF, highlighting deposits, weight 6.362 g, maximum diameter 24.5 mm, die axis 0o, Seoul, Board of Revenue mint, 1806(?); obverse Sang Pyong Tong Bo (always even universal currency), one dot tong, hooks on pyong; reverse Ho (Treasury Department) mintmark above without topbar, Sa (four) left, Sip (ten) below; SOLD


Korea, Choson (Yi) Dynasty, 1392 - 1910

|Korea|, |Korea,| |Choson| |(Yi)| |Dynasty,| |1392| |-| |1910||1| |mun|
Beginning in 1633 A.D., during the reign of King Injo, the famine relief "Stabilization Office" (Sangpyongchong) began to cast coins using the first two characters of the office name (sang pyong) in the inscription (sang pyong tong bo), meaning "always even universal currency." Sang pyong tong bo coins were cast from 1633 to 1891 and circulated for over 300 years. Numerous government offices and military mints produced the coins as a source of funding, and many were also privately cast. The places indicated by the mintmark were not necessarily the actual mint; they were offices granted the right of coinage. They may have been minted for the office at another location.
KO92730. Copper 1 mun, Velde-Hartill type 25.4A.6, SCWC KM 276.1.6, CKCB 18.234A, Craig LCC 5, aVF, light deposits, weight 4.502 g, maximum diameter 29.6 mm, die axis 0o, Seoul, Special Army Unit mint, 1750; obverse Sang Pyong Tong Bo (always even universal currency); reverse Yong (Special Army Unit) mintmark above, Yuk (six) below, circle left; SOLD


Korea, Choson (Yi) Dynasty, 1392 - 1910

|Korea|, |Korea,| |Choson| |(Yi)| |Dynasty,| |1392| |-| |1910||1| |mun|
Beginning in 1633 A.D., during the reign of King Injo, the famine relief "Stabilization Office" (Sangpyongchong) began to cast coins using the first two characters of the office name (sang pyong) in the inscription (sang pyong tong bo), meaning "always even universal currency." Sang pyong tong bo coins were cast from 1633 to 1891 and circulated for over 300 years. Numerous government offices and military mints produced the coins as a source of funding, and many were also privately cast. The places indicated by the mintmark were not necessarily the actual mint; they were offices granted the right of coinage. They may have been minted for the office at another location.
KO87075. Copper 1 mun, Velde-Hartill type 28.20.10, SCWC KM 469.10 (1857), CKCB 18.329, Craig LCC 6, Fair/VF, earthen deposits, weight 4.892 g, maximum diameter 24.6 mm, die axis 0o, Hullyondogam (Military Training Command) mint, 1832 or 1857; obverse Sang Pyong Tong Bo (always even universal currency); reverse Hun (Hullyondogam) mintmark above, Saeng (to produce) below, + (sip=10) left (series number); SOLD


Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), 2002

|Asia|, |Democratic| |People's| |Republic| |of| |Korea| |(North| |Korea),| |2002||1/2| |chon|
World of Animals Series - Hippo.
WO91883. Aluminum 1/2 chon, SCWC KM190, UNC, weight 2.173 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 0o, Pyongyang mint, 2002; obverse hippopotamus right, 1/2 Chon (in Korean) below; reverse Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (in Korean), North Korean national coat of arms, 2002 below; SOLD




  




You are viewing a SOLD items page.
Click here to return to the page with AVAILABLE items.
The sale price for a sold item is the private information of the buyer and will not be provided.



REFERENCES

Bank of Korea. Hwapye Moknok [Korean Money Diagrams]. (Seoul, 1970).
Bank of Korea. Hanguk Hwapye Sa [Korean Currency]. (Seoul, 1994).
Craig, A. The Coins of Korea and an Outline of Early Chinese Coinages. (Mountain View, CA, 2011).
Galloway, A. Illustrated Coin Dating Guide for the Eastern World. (Iola, 1984).
Gardner, C. The Coinage of Corea and Their Values. (1892).
Han, Y. Han'guk ui kojon [Cash Coins of Korea]. (Seoul, 2002).
Kim, I. Korean Numismatic Diagrams. (Seoul, 1974).
Korean Coins and Banknotes Association. Korean Coins and Banknotes Catalogue. (Seoul, 2011).
Krause, C. & C. Mishler. Standard Catalog of World Coins. (Iola, WI, 2009).
Kriz, R. Korean Cash - Mandel Supplement. (Seattle, 1989).
Lovmo, M. South Korean Coins in the Era of Development. (2022).
Mandel, E. Cast Coins of Korea. (Racine, WI, 1972).
Mitchiner, M. Oriental Coins and Their Values, Vol. 2: the Ancient and Classical World. (London, 1978).
Mitchiner, M. Oriental Coins and Their Values, Vol. 3: Non-Islamic States & Western Colonies. (London, 1979).
Ohsung, K. & C. The Catalog of Korean Coins and Banknotes. (2011).
Velde, W. & D. Hartill. Cast Korean Coins and Charms. (London, 2013).

Catalog current as of Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Page created in 1.203 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity