After the Meiji government was established, the 5 kinds (10 ryo, 5 ryo, 1 ryo, 1 bu, 1 shu) of Dajokan-satsu (Kinsatsu, a golden bank note) were issued as an alternative to the currency issued by the Edo bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun), but only expensive Kinsatsu were issued in order to complement public finance, and 1 bu or 1 shu were rarely issued, so they could not accommodate public demand.
明治政府の成立後、江戸幕府発行の貨幣に替わるものとして太政官札（金札）5種（10両・5両・1両・1分・1朱）が発行されたが、財政補完を目的として高額金札ばかりが発行され、1分・1朱がほとんど発行されなかったために、民間の需要に応えることが出来なかった。