一いち文もん銭せん

noun

one-mon coin

A historical Japanese coin of the lowest denomination, used from the Edo period into the early Meiji era. Often appears in set phrases about having very little money.

See also: 文 (もん)

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、一いち文もん銭せんで駄だ菓が子しが買かえた。

  In the Edo period, you could buy cheap sweets with a one-mon coin.

• 彼かれは一いち文もん銭せんも持もっていなかった。

  He didn't have a single mon to his name.