|
When the Japanese demonetized their silver One Yen & Trade Dollar coins (a decision later rescinded) they counterstamped them with the word "GIN" ("silver") in a circle. The primary mint in Osaka stamped the mark to the left of the denomination on the reverse, and the Tokyo branch mint stamped it to the right of the denomination. The mark is considerably larger than the typical "chop", and it's upright orientation and standard position also distinguish it from chopmarks, which can be anywhere on the coin, and in a random orientation.
Silver yen with, and without the counterstamp, and with and without chopmarks, are all common, but Trade Dollars generally have the GIN mark, chop marks, or both.
The counterstamped coins were shipped to Taiwan in bulk as silver bullion, while the counterstamp was intended to bar their re-importation to Japan. Several years later the coins were re-monetized.
__________________
Roy
| 
