鵝が眼がん銭せん

noun

round coin with a square hole

Archaic term for an old-style round coin with a square hole in the center, similar to Chinese cash coins. Not used in modern Japanese; encountered only in historical contexts.

See also: 銭 (ぜに)

• 鵝が眼がん銭せんは、昔むかしの中ちゅう国ごくや日本にほんで使つかわれた穴あなあきの硬こう貨かを指さす言こと葉ばだ。

  Gagansen is a term for the holed coins used in old China and Japan.