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kan

貫　—　Measuring

A unit of a thousand cash coins strung together.

Haedong Wonbo Haedong WonboEarly 12th century Akçe (Mehmed II, first reign) Akçe (Mehmed II, first reign)1444–46 Sangpyeong Tongbo (four denominations) Sangpyeong Tongbo (four denominations)From 1678
A photograph of what this word names.

This unit originates from stringing pierced coins together. ⚠ However, in some regions it became standard for a string of less than one thousand coins to be accepted as a full kan. Even units of counting diminish if left unattended.