noun
low-value coin; poorly-minted coin
Historical term for a small, often debased or poorly struck coin from the Edo period or earlier. Also used figuratively to mean something of little value.
江戸時代には鐚銭が広く流通していた。
During the Edo period, low-value coins were widely circulated.
この古い銭は鐚銭で、ほとんど価値がない。
This old coin is a poorly-minted one and has almost no value.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; the first character is often written in kana because 鐚 is not a jōyō kanji.
一文銭 is a specific low-denomination coin, while 鐚銭 emphasizes poor quality or debasement rather than just low value.
The term 鐚銭 (びたせん) combines 鐚 (びた), meaning 'poor quality' or 'debased', with 銭 (せん), 'coin'. The reading びたぜに is an alternative using the native Japanese reading ぜに for 銭. The exact origin of びた is uncertain, but it is associated with low-grade metal or bad minting.