i
Japan
CHINESE MONEY
1 li
(cash)
032 of a penny
10 li
障 make 1 fèn
(candareen)
=
32 of a penny
10 fên
分 make 1 ch'ien錢(mace)
3.2 pence
10 ch'ien make 1 liang (tael)
= 2s. 8d.
!
The Tael may be taken as worth one and a third silver dollar.
Į
The above are weights of silver. They are not represented by any coin except the copper
cash, which is supposed to be the equivalent in value of a li of silver, but the value of which
differs greatly in different districts and at different times. They have no uniform intrinsic
value, being made large and small and of varying composition. Silver is used uncoined in
ingets, usually of fifty taels more or less, in weight, called shoes," the usual shape being not
unlike a Chinese shoe. In the maritime district from Canton to Amoy chopped dollars are the
general medium of exchange. In 1890 a mint was established for the coinage of silver dollars
and subsidiary pieces, and more recently mints for silver and copper coinage have been opened
at several centres. The coins, although supposed to be of equal weight and fineness, are
differently inscribed. Some of the foreign banks issue tael and dollar notes of the value of one
dollar and upwards at the larger of the Treaty Ports.
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