This 近江国／大森／銀壱匁 note, issued in Kōka 4 (1847), is a futures silver note from the Omori region in Ōmi Province (modern-day Shiga Prefecture). The note is a 1-ryō (銀壱匁) denomination issued as a flag holder note and used as a tea certificate (茶切手) for local transactions, providing insight into the currency system during the Edo period.
Issued during the Kōka era (which spans from 1844–1848), this note reflects the financial practices in Ōmi Province under the influence of regional flag holder issues. The note was used in Ōmorijinya (大森陣屋), located in Gamō District, now part of Yokaichi City.
During the Edo period, these notes played a significant role in regional economies and were part of the feudal system's local monetary exchanges. The Omorifutures silver notes represent a fascinating piece of financial history as Japan transitioned from the Edo period to the more modernized Meiji era.
This particular Kōka period note stands as a symbol of the era's evolving economic system, marking the role of local governments and commercial practices in shaping currency and trade.
