Korean Mun

There were only two types of 2 Mun coins cast at the Hojo (Treasury Dept) mint:

1) One type has a 二 (meaning "two") beneath the square hole on the reverse side.

2) The second type has one of the characters from The Thousand Character Classic below the square hole on the reverse side.

If you look at the reverse side of your coin, you will see a single horizontal line (一) below the square hole.

No variety of 2 Mun coin from the Hojo mint has a (一), meaning "one", below the square hole.

However, a 1 Mun coin from the Hojo mint can have a (一) below the square hole.

This means you have a larger than average 1 Mun coin from the Hojo mint.

(Of course, it is possible that the coin really is a 2 Mun coin that was poorly cast resulting in the second horizontal line (二) not appearing. However, all the other characters on the coin cast cleanly so this possibility is unlikely.)

I cannot tell you if it is a "KM8" or not.

I do not have any Krause books but I referred to two Korean language coin catalogs to confirm that the Hojo mint only cast the two types of Two Mun coins mentioned above.

Perhaps another forum member can confirm whether the Krause designation (KM8) is correct or not.

Gary

If you want to believe it is a 2 Mun coin then that's fine.

However, I cannot agree with your reasoning.

There is no possibility that there would be another (invisible or worn) horizontal line above the visible line on the coin.

A Chinese "two" (二) is not written in this way and would not be cast in this position on the coin.

A Chinese "two" will have a short line on the top and a longer line, spaced appropriately, below.

If you observe any Korean or Chinese cash coin, you will see that the length of the visible line on your coin and its position below the hole means that it can only be a "one" (一) or the top line of a "two" (二).

For the coin to be a 2 Mun, there would have to be a second and longer line spaced below (not above) the visible line on the coin.

Please look at the area below the visible line on your coin, that is, in the area where a second line (bottom line of the 二) would have to be. Even though there is some wear in this area, there are still areas where there is no wear.

In the non-worn areas where the second line would have to be, there is no sign at all of a line.

As mentioned above, all the other characters on the coin were fully cast even though they may show wear.

For your coin to be a 2 Mun, you would have to believe that only the top line of the "two" was cast successfully and no part of the second line below was cast.

This is highly unlikely and seems like a very questionable way to determine that the coin is a 2 Mun.

Again, you can "believe" this is a 2 Mun coin if you want, but your reasoning as to where the second (invisible or worn) line would be is not valid.

Gary

I do not keep my Korean coin collection at home so I cannot help you in regard to the various sizes and weights of 1 Mun coins.

However, cast coins vary in size and weight because of the way they are produced. Also, there are differences depending on which mint produced the coin.

There are questions and doubts concerning this coin.

Personally, I would not feel satisfied calling it a 2 Mun when there are clear indications that it is really a 1 Mun coin.

Gary

'kommodore_ss', having a look at my Krause there is certainly doubt.
Could be km#75 based on size and design, but a 20% lower weight raises suspicions.
'manymore', is there any information on contemporary forgeries or mintmasters cheating by producing underweight coins?

Medieval-

Yes, there were contemporary forgeries.

There was frequently corruption at the official mints where small, poor quality and underweight coins were produced.

There were even times when the government contracted with private individuals to mint coins.

The coin of kommodore_ss may very well be a contemporary forgery. It has the diameter of a 2 Mun coin but is underweight and does not have the "correct" inscription on the reverse side.

Gary