Korean mun

Korean mun
文 / 문 (Korean)
A Sangpyeong Tongbo (常平通寶) cash coin issued by the Treasury Department Mint (戶).
Unit
Symbol文 or MN
Denominations
Superunit
 100jeon (錢)
 1000kwan (貫) / hwan (圜)
Demographics
Date of introduction998 (first attempt),
1423 (second attempt),
1625 (third attempt)
Replaced byKorean yang
User(s) Goryeo (998–1105),
Joseon Joseon (1423–1425, 1625–1892)
Valuation
Pegged withKorean Empire Korean won = 500 mun (from 1908)
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.
Korean mun
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanizationmun
McCune–Reischauermun
10 mun stamp of 1884, displaying abbreviation MN

The mun (Korean; Hanja, Late Middle Chinese: , romanized: mjun, Middle Korean: , romanized: mwun) was introduced as the main currency of Korea in 1625 and stayed in use until 1892. Prior to the mun, cash coins with the inscriptions tongbo (通寶) and jungbo (重寶) and silver vases called ŭnbyŏng were used as currency in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392), as well as imported Chinese currency. The mun resembled and was derived from the Chinese wén (cognate also to the Japanese mon, Ryukyuan mon, and the Vietnamese văn). Coins denominated in mun were cast in copper-alloys such as brass or bronze and were round with square holes. From the 17th century until the end of the 19th century, coins denominated in mun bearing the inscription Sangpyeong Tongbo (상평통보, ), introduced in 1633, were the most widely circulated currency. In 1888, coins were struck in small numbers denominated in mun and won (written as "warn", which were equal to 1000 mun). The mun was replaced in 1892 when the yang was introduced.

The cast coins of the mun would remain in circulation long after their abolition. They continued to be legal tender in Korea at a value of 0.1 chon (11000 won) until 1908, when they were revalued to 0.2 chon, or 1500 won.[1]

  1. ^ 도면회 (2021). "우리 역사 나침반" (in Korean). National Institute of Korean History. Retrieved 5 June 2021.

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