The term "money changer" derives from the fact that a one-ryo gold koban was exchanged for "shoryo" silver coins whose values were determined by equivalent standard weight of silver and which included chogin and "mameitagin" (small silver coins), or for copper coins.
両替という言葉は、一両小判を、丁銀、豆板銀すなわち秤量銀貨に、また銭貨に換（替）えたことに由来する。