Haedong Wonbo
Early 12th century ・ bronze ・ 12th century ・ Jujeon Dogam, Goryeo
The inscription reads "Haedong Wonbo". Like the Haedong Tongbo of 1102, it is a coin from the lineage calling itself "Haedong"—the country east of the sea, Goryeo. At the suggestion of the monk Uicheon, 15,000 kwan of Haedong Tongbo were minted and distributed to everyone from the chief ministers to the soldiers. Government-run taverns and tea houses were opened in the capital, Gaegyeong, where payment was restricted to these coins. The history of the state going so far as to open its own shops to circulate coinage lies behind this small, verdigris-covered piece.