These unusually shaped Tenpō Tsūhō, valued at 100 mon, were minted by the Japanese during the late Edo Period (1835 -1870 AD). They have been privately acquired and inspected for authenticity by the History Hoard team.

See also: Japanese 1 Mon Coin - Edo Period

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A woodcut of the daimyo Fukushima Masanori, a feudal lord of the early Edo Period.

The Edo Period: Age of the daimyo

When you think of feudal Japan, you're almost certainly thinking of the Edo period.

This was the age of the samurai and the daimyo, a coalition of wealthy landowners that effectively ruled Japan.

But more than that, the Edo period is known for something else: isolation.

Outside trade was heavily regulated, traveling abroad was completely banned, and foreign books were made illegal.

Yet despite all, Japan's economy and culture flourished.

Japanese isolation finally ended in 1853, when American Commodore Matthew Perry forced open the doors of Japanese trade. The introduction of new goods was disastrous for the Japanese economy, and the Edo period ended with the Meiji Resoration in 1868.

These Tenpō Tsūhō 100 mon coins are some of the few surviving reminders of this period. They were minted starting in 1835 for 35 years, until the start of the Meiji Restoration.

Panorama of Edo (now Tokyo), circa 1855 (colorized).