Oban, special gold coins used for rewards and gifts. The Oban, a large oval gold coin, was primarily minted to be used for rewards and gifts. This is made clear by the fact that its value of "Ju ryo" (ten ryo) and the mint master's name and his signature "Goto" on the obverse were all written with Indian ink, which easily faded away. They could be rewritten if a commission was paid. Ju ryo meant 165g weight of gold and was not equivalent to 10 Kobans. When the Oban was used as a medium of exchange, it was valued by the gold content itself. In the case of the Kyoho Oban, for example, its value was 7 ryo 2 bu (7.5 ryo). The issue of the first Japanese Gold Oban (Tensho Hishi Oban 1588) ) was by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who ordered the "Goto" family, chaser employed by Ashikaga Shogunate family, to mint Obans or large gold coins. The "Tensho Hishi Oban" is said to be the first Oban among them. It is 10ryo(=165.4g) gold plate with paulownia mark in lozenge-shaped frame on surface. It also carries the indication "10ryo", "Goto", and signature of Goto. Oban's were also created from 1772-1862 Other oban : Keicho Oban (1601) Kyoho Oban (1725) Man'en Oban (1860) Note: An original Japan 1860-1862, Gold Oban, from the Manen Era; Signed in Ink, was recently SOLD for $28000! This Manen ERA oban is the only type that was produced using machinery. Prior to this type obans were hand made.