Korean Coins



Korean Coins were first minted in Korea during the 15th year of King Songjong (996 A.D.) in the kingdom of KORYO (936-1392 A.D.) which occupied the entire Korean peninsula.

Background
The coins were called "cast coins", because of the way they were manufactured in the form of a casting. These were iron and copper coins and were inscribed with four characters on the obverse, KON WON CHUNG BO, "Lasting, Original, Heavy Currency". This inscription was copied from the coins of the T'and Dynasty of China, Emperor Su Tsung (758-759A.D.). The Korean coins had two additional characters on the reverse TONG GUK, "Eastern Country".