Mannen Tsūhō

Mannen Tsūhō (万年通宝 aka 萬年通宝) is an early form of Japanese currency that was issued from 760 to 765 AD (Tenpyō-hōji 4 to 9) during the Nara period.

These imitation cash coins were inspired by Chinese Tang dynasty coinage (唐銭) named Kaigen Tsūhō.

According to the Shoku Nihongi, Mannen Tsūhō were issued in 760 (Tenpyō-hōji 4) through an Imperial edict along with the silver Taihei Genpō and the gold Kaiki Shoho.

[6] The characters man (萬), nen (年), tsu (通) ho (宝) written on the obverse roughly translate to: "Current money (or treasure) of Ten Thousand Years".

According to the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, "there were 79 mokkan, plus coins including Wado kaichin and Mannen tsuho examples" recovered from a ditch at the ruins of Akita Castle.