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Joseon Tongbo

1423　・　bronze　・　15th century　・　Joseon Dynasty (King Sejong)

Joseon Tongbo（obverse）
National Museum of Korea / KOGL Type 1（Wikimedia Commons）

Minted in 1423 (the 5th year of King Sejong's reign). The official rate was set at 160 mun per geun of copper. Although well-made, it failed to gain public trust, and minting ceased in 1425. For the next two hundred years, daily payments in Joseon reverted to cloth and rice. This coin, with its well-ordered face, tells the story of why coinage failed to take root.