Chemical Compositions of Some of the Japanese Kanei-Tsuho Coins via Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence

One hundred Japanese Kanei-Tsuho coins (c. 1626-1863) were analyzed via energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for the following elements: copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), antimony (Sb), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and silver (Ag). The composition of these Japanese coins was in many cases significantly higher in lead than expected. Japanese coins with the 'bun' character on the reverse were found to be devoid of any residual gold.