More Exciting than Gold

While metal detectorist Angus James was searching an Australian gold rush-era campsite last month, he made an exciting discovery. He unearthed a nearly 200-year-old Japanese coin. The oblong, bronze specimen is a 100-mon tempo tsuho, commonly used in Japan in the mid-1800s. It features a square hole in the center with Chinese characters on the obverse, which is not uncommon for Japanese coins from that period. The tempo tsuho likely came from a prospector who made his way to Australia during the gold rush of the mid-19th century.

Though the coin is valued at around only $35, it’s notable because it’s an unusual find in Australia. “To find a Japanese coin this old is a great discovery,” James says. He also found other treasures at the site, including a belt buckle from the 1840s and an 1855-dated trade token. He plans to return to the location to see what else he can find. “Metal detecting is such a great hobby,” he adds. “You get great exercise [and] fresh air, and you can also find some pretty amazing things.”