Changes

==Early Coinage==

==Early Coinage==

[[File:Wadokaichin.jpg|right|thumb|200px|An example of a ''wadô kaichin'' coin, on display at the British Museum]]

[[File:Wadokaichin.jpg|right|thumb|400px|An example of a ''wadô kaichin'' coin, on display at the British Museum]]

The Wadô era ([[708]]-[[715]]) is named after the significant discovery of copper seams in [[Musashi province]]; the era's name means literally "Japanese copper." Copper coins minted during that period based on the form of [[Chinese currency|Chinese ones]] are believed to have been the first coins minted in Japan.

The Wadô era ([[708]]-[[715]]) is named after the significant discovery of copper seams in [[Musashi province]]; the era's name means literally "Japanese copper." Copper coins minted during that period based on the form of [[Chinese currency|Chinese ones]] are believed to have been the first coins minted in Japan.

The [[Song Dynasty]] produced more copper coins than any other dynasty; in the 1070s, China was producing nearly six million coins per year, a process which required 9600 tons of copper each year.<ref>Bonnie Smith, et al. ''Crossroads and Cultures'', vol. B, Bedford St. Martins (2012), 385.</ref> Many of these coins made it to Japan, where Chinese coins remained a standard mode of exchange over domestically minted coins throughout much of the pre-modern period.

The [[Song Dynasty]] produced more copper coins than any other dynasty; in the 1070s, China was producing nearly six billion coins per year, a process which required 9600 tons of copper each year.<ref>Bonnie Smith, et al. ''Crossroads and Cultures'', vol. B, Bedford St. Martins (2012), 385.</ref> Many of these coins made it to Japan, where Chinese coins remained a standard mode of exchange over domestically minted coins throughout much of the pre-modern period.

==Muromachi Period==

==Muromachi Period==