The Japan Ichi Bu Gin coin does not have a date stamped but was minted from 1837 until 1854 (during the Shogun era) it was minted in silver, about 5/8" X 7/8" X 3/16". 8.8 grams.

Description
Japan, Shogunate period of either Tokugawa Iesada or Tokugawa Yoshinobu, silver one Bu 'ICHI BU GIN' meaning 1 Bu silver.

Obverse : Three characters reading top to bottom 'ICHI' one 'BU' Bu, the currency name 'GIN' silver on a panel surrounded by cherry blossoms
Reverse : Characters reading from the right, top to botom 'GIN' silver 'ZA' mint , 'JYO, ZE' the name of the mintmaster; and above the four characters punched incusely 'TEI' which is a verification mark (hallmark). Again, all in a panel with cherry blosson around. Also incuse cherry blossom on the edge as a sort of milling.

These coins were struck at Kakigarachou, Edo (Tokyo).

The silver is reasonably pure and is just under 90% They are a very interesting form of 'ingot' coinage, some of the last of their type before Japan opened up to European influence and adopted the 'western' style of round coins.

Up until the Meiji period Japan had been ruled by Shoguns (military leaders who ruled as feudal lords) when in 1867 Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu relinquised his power and authority to the Emperor Meiji - so these coins were made in the last days of the Shogunate - for with the coming to power of the Meiji Emperor, major currency reforms were instituted and this traditional Japanese bullion coinage gave way to denominational coins in the European fashion.

These coins were issued in the late Shogunate period at sometime during the rule of last two Shoguns - Tokugawa Iemochi (1858 - 1866).