Banknote Japan 1 Yen - Sailors - 1877

For a brief period from 1872 onwards, several central banks had the authority to issue paper money, including the banknote shown here, issued by the Imperial National Bank. However, this led to an inflationary increase in the money supply, prompting the withdrawal of these banks' issuing rights in 1878. The Bank of Japan (Nippon Ginko) then became the sole national central bank in 1882.

The front side of this banknote features the coat of arms of the Japanese Emperor and an imperial seal. On the reverse side, we can see the Japanese God of Fortune, Ebisu, who was believed to bring good luck to fishermen and prosperity to those involved in commerce. This ties in with the image of sailors gazing out to sea on the front of the banknote. The motif of success and prosperity bestowed by Japan's Shinto Gods of Fortune was later used by the Bank of Japan in the design of one of its earliest banknotes