Yeopjeon

A yeopjeon (Korean: 엽전; Hanja: 葉錢; "leaf coin") was a Korean brass coin with a square cut out which was first issued in 1678 and continued until the final years of the Chosun Dynasty.^[1] Coins with a similar design had been unsuccessfully used during the earlier Goryeo period as well.^[2][3][4]

A Sangpyeong Tongbo (常平通寶) cash coin.

The Sangpyeong Tongbo [ko] (常平通寶) cash coins were known as yeopjeon because of the way that these cash coins resembled leaves on a branch when they were being cast in the casting mould.^[2] In the western world all coins with this design are commonly called "cash coins".^[5]

In 1908 the value of a yeopjeon was set at 0.2 chon (or 1⁄500 won).^[5]

Modern influence

• At the Tong-in Market (통인시장), a small market that was established in 1941 during the Japanese occupation period for Seoul's Japanese residents outside of the Gyeongbok Palace, people can purchase token coins shaped like yeopjeon at shops which are members of the "Dosirak Café" (도시락) project to spend at around 70 food stores and restaurants. The shops where these yeopjeon tokens can be spend have a sign stating "通 도시락 cafe" and these tokens can be bought in strings of 10 yeopjeon. A single one of these yeopjeon tokens cost ₩500 in 2014.^[6][7]

See also

• Cash (Chinese coin)
• Korean mun

References

1. New history of Korea - Page 516 Hyŏn-hŭi Yi, Sŏng-su Pak, Nae-hyŏn Yun - 2005 At this time, the bulk of Korean currency was the so-called yeopjeon brass coin and a nickel coin. Japan had the existing currency replaced by coins newly minted by a Japanese bank, Daiichi Ginko, and planned the new currency to circulate ...
2. Not listed (2019). "Korean Currency". National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
3. "Korean Coins – 韓國錢幣 - History of Korean Coinage". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
4. Mark Cartwright (25 September 2016). "Ancient Korean Coinage". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
5. Joseph E. Boling, NLG (1988). "Korea - A Numismatic Survey. (This article has been transposed to this format from a July 1988 supplement issue included with Coin World. Its original title was: Beyond Cash - A Numismatic Survey of Korea.)" (PDF). Moneta-Coins.com. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
6. Jeon Han, Sohn JiAe (4 March 2014). "Tongin Market draws tourists to the heart of Seoul". Korea.net. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
7. Wanderluster (28 November 2014). "Tong-in Market Dosirak Cafe: $5 Korean Lunchbox. (The Calm Chronicle - Your South Korea & World Travel Guides Curated by a Wanderluster. - By Pheuron Korea: Street Food & Markets, Seoul, Seoul: Gyeongbok Palace area, South Korea - November 28, 2014)". Pheurontay. Retrieved 2 October 2019.