Also 7 coban, 8 cupang. [Jap. ko-ban, f. ko little + ban (a. Chinese fan) division: cf. OBANG.] An oblong gold coin, rounded at the corners, formerly current in Japan. The original weight was 222 grains troy, but it was afterwards reduced to about a quarter of this owing to the unfavorable rate of exchange. Also attrib. in † coban gold.
1616. Cocks, Diary, 17 Sept. (1883), I. 176. I receved two bars Coban gould with ten ichibos, of 4 to a coban.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. 86. My Friend … complimented the Doctor with five Japon Cupangs, or fifty Dutch Dollars.
1860. Merc. Marine Mag., VII. 57. The exportation of the gold coin called kobangs is permitted.
1897. Blackw. Mag., Dec., 842/1. Bus were essential for another purpose, the purchase of kobangs.
