Korean mun

Korean mun

文 / 문 (Korean)
A Sangpyeong Tongbo (常平通寶) cash coin issued by the Treasury Department Mint (戶).
Unit
Symbol	文 or MN‎
Denominations
Superunit
100	jeon (錢)
1000	kwan (貫) / hwan (圜)
Demographics
Date of introduction	998 (first attempt), 1423 (second attempt), 1625 (third attempt)
Replaced by	Korean yang
User(s)	Goryeo (998–1105), Joseon (1423–1425, 1625–1892)
Valuation
Pegged with	Korean won = 500 mun (from 1908)
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

The mun (Korean: 문; Hanja: 文) was introduced as the main currency of Korea in 1625 and stayed in use until 1892. Prior to the mun, cash coins with the inscriptions tongbo (通寶) and jungbo (重寶) and silver vases called ŭnbyŏng were used as currency in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392), as well as imported Chinese currency. The mun resembled and was derived from the Chinese wén (cognate also to the Japanese mon, Ryukyuan mon, and the Vietnamese văn). Coins denominated in mun were cast in copper-alloys such as brass or bronze and were round with square holes. From the 17th century until the end of the 19th century, coins denominated in mun bearing the inscription Sangpyeong Tongbo (상평통보, 常平通寶), introduced in 1633, were the most widely circulated currency. In 1888, coins were struck in small numbers denominated in mun and won (written as "warn", which were equal to 1000 mun). The mun was replaced in 1892 when the yang was introduced.

The cast coins of the mun would remain in circulation long after their abolition. They continued to be legal tender in Korea at a value of 0.1 chon (1⁄1000 won) until 1908, when they were revalued to 0.2 chon, or 1⁄500 won.^[1]