Chopmark or merchants mark Japanese silver 1870?!

Discussion in 'World Coins' started by Atherton Dumpster Diver, Dec 23, 2017.

  1. Atherton Dumpster Diver

    Atherton Dumpster Diver New Member

    I believe the MD is the Roman numeral I'm not sure about DAM. Notice the error on the MD right leg? Anyone ever see this?
    IMG_20171223_022351.jpg IMG_20171223_022306.jpg
     
    Atherton Dumpster Diver, Dec 23, 2017
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  3. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    No to chopmark or merchants mark..
    It's an etching known as a Love Token
    MD are a persons initials
    @lordmarcovan can maybe tell you more about it ;)

    I believe that is Chinese and not a Japanese coin (looks like I'm wrong)
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2017
    paddyman98, Dec 23, 2017
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  4. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    That is indeed a Western love token engraved on a Japanese host coin. The creator was likely American, but possibly British or Western European. It is done in the classic late Victorian (ca. 1870s-1890s) style. The monogram was the initials of the person who owned it.

    It's a neat piece. The engraving is competent but not exceptional, and the unusual host coin is a plus.
     
    lordmarcovan, Dec 23, 2017
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  5. Atherton Dumpster Diver

    Atherton Dumpster Diver New Member

    Love token! Looking closer the M Is entwined with the D. Thank you.
     
    Atherton Dumpster Diver, Dec 23, 2017
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  6. mlov43

    mlov43 주화 수집가

    I believe that I have "merchant marks" on some Japanese 2-Sen coins. They are countermarked with arabic numeral "2" on the reverse side.

    What does anybody know about "merchant marks" on coins?
     
    mlov43, Dec 24, 2017
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  7. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    That's unfortunately too broad a question, like "what does one know about books?" or "tell me about cars". There are too many categories and variables.

    There are references on counterstamps. Brunk is a big one, though I personally have no experience with it.

    And there might indeed be reference material on Japanese counterstamps like you seek, but that's getting into pretty esoteric territory and maybe outside the scope of English-language reference material.

    Perhaps @Stork, who collects Japanese coins, will know a little about this, but counterstamps and chopmarks and such can be a pretty deep rabbit hole to go down. I suspect you yourself, @mlov43, likely know a lot more about Asian ad Far Eastern coins than I do.

    In any event, the coin in the OP does not have any kind of merchant marks or counterstamps. Just hand-engraved love token art. And that at least is a topic I have some familiarity with.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2017
    lordmarcovan, Dec 24, 2017
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  8. gxseries

    gxseries Coin Collector

    You got to realize that this 10 sen coin is somewhat a tiny coin to work with. I believe it's roughly the size of a dime.
     
    gxseries, Dec 24, 2017
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  9. Stork

    Stork I deliver

    Love a love token on a 10 sen! As for the counterstamps, chopmarks etc. I know very little.
     
    Stork, Dec 24, 2017
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  10. Atherton Dumpster Diver

    Atherton Dumpster Diver New Member

    Thanks for the link. I'm new. My first forum and first question.
     
    Atherton Dumpster Diver, Dec 26, 2017
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  11. Atherton Dumpster Diver

    Atherton Dumpster Diver New Member

    It is between the size of a dime a nickel.
     
    Atherton Dumpster Diver, Dec 26, 2017
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  12. Dnas

    Dnas Active Member

    The round silver (gin) counterstamp was used to designate a one yen coin to be used as a trade coin outside if Japan. "gin" mark on the left is Osaka mint, on the right is Tokyo mint.
    Chop marks were punched by Chinese merchants to test the coin for fakes. They had to be deep enough pierce the surface to see underlying silver
     
    Dnas, Mar 3, 2018
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