Mame Gin Publique Deposited
Cho Gin, meaning "long silver," is a name given to oval lumps of silver, more or less diluted with copper, issued in Japan as early as 1601. They have no right to be called circulating coin.
Munro states (p. 202) that "the weight was supposed to be 43 momme, but owing to uncouth form and rough casting, these pieces frequently fell short of this amount, To correct the deficiency, pieces of silver of various weights were added. These have been described in some works as Bean money, but this is quite incorrect, the expression Mame Gin, or Bean Silver, having reference to their usually round or bean like form. They all represent Daikoku Ten, the god of wealth, and have the year period impressed in the centre of each figure."
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)