Album - Japan Type 1870 - 1970

I purchased this album back in early January off of eBay for an ungodly cheap sum. Since then, this album, along with other discontinued foreign type albums, has proven to be quite the numismatic journey. I was inspired to do this thread due to @Seba79's thread on compiling a set of German Commemorative coins in an old Continental Line album. However, with the budget of a college student, this should prove to be an interesting challenge for years to come.

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Good luck with the trade dollar; the only one I ever found even remotely within my budget was heavily cleaned and chopmarked.

 

Best of luck! I know that feeling. I think there's a few members here that have completed this album - search under Japan dansco in this forum.

Other than all the large Meiji silver yen coins and the trade dollar, the rest should be easily obtainable on a student budget.

 

Y'all ain't kidding about that trade dollar: gorgeous but pricey!
There are 3 straight graded ones on eBay, but they start at $2600!

https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide...-yr.101877-yr.91876-cuid-1171069-duid-1449817

For a coin like that, especially one that's destined for an album, some chop marks might actually add to the appeal of it for me.

 

This is mine that I bought more than a decade ago. Still haven't found one that's reasonable and not break my arm for it.

 

I have a few counterfeit trade dollars, and one that I'm pretty sure is counterfeit, although it's silver and right size and weight.

As for Meiji (and the single Taisho) silver 1 yen, I have most years from 1870 - 1912, except for maybe 7 or 8 dates. Also missing the second varieties of 1892 & 1886.
Missing years include 1874, 1875, 1878 and 1908

 

Watch the Taisei, AW and Ginza Coin Auctions out of Tokyo Japan. I bought the 1875 Trade Dollar (Meiji 8) from Taisei. However, arranging payment was really a challenge which I can discuss over PM if anyone likes. The Trade dollars are hard to find. You have to also stick with reputable dealers as there are fakes out there.

 

I certainly agree that chop marks do add to the coin's character and appeal in its own unique way. Not to mention, I would also consider buying a heavily chop-marked One Yen as a budget-friendly substitute considering it likely circulated in the same markets as the Trade Dollar.

 

Best of luck!
Looks like a fun challenge!

 

This was the album that started my Japanese collection, (which I ended up replicating with slabbed ones too). For years I substituted a heavily chopped yen in the trade dollar spot...I figured it pretty much served the same purpose . Right now I have an 'altered surfaces' trade dollar.

Seriously though, great album and awesome that you found one that wasn't too pricey. These can run into several hundred dollars for the album alone.

 

Good buy! And a challenge ahead ... My Weimar commemorative series is "resting" these days, but soon in the first months of 2020 we will have news!

 

This is one I'd like to get sometime...
But the availability and PRICE...! Oof.

 

I went into Ginza Coins (in Tokyo, a reputable and well known shop) yesterday, looking for proof Reiwa sets, but ended up buying a Trade Dollar.
45,000yen = $411 USD.









You can't see the colors in these two shots, so here it is in the sun, with colors slightly enhanced.



I like toning on my coins, while Japanese tend to like them clear silver color, so the toned coins are often cheaper, which suits me.
Most of the AU clear silver ones started at around $1800 (60+), $1100 for mid/low 55s, so I think I got a good deal. Mine would probably be XF mid/high 40 I guess.

 

@Dnas that is quite a beautiful coin. When the time comes I'd rather buy a trade dollar from a source such as Ginza Coins rather than eBay.

 

An upgrade

Meiji 34 (1901) 1 Sen



A new addition for my album.

1970 100 Yen Osaka Expo

 

Better album than the ones I got.

 

I also have what I think is a fake Trade Dollar, which I picked up from a Japanese person on Ebay about a year and a half ago. I bought a few 1 yen coins from him, which were definitely fakes, but they were cheap, so it was worth a look. Some of them display magnetic repulsion ("diamagnetic, which is evident with silver[-2.6] and copper[-1.0]), so some are silver, and some are not. But in some cases, the reverse is offset (doesn't line up with the obverse)

This is the Trade Dollar. I actually can't fault the coin. Details seem to be perfect, right size, right weight (27.2g), right alignment and it's silver.(right specific weight). The reason I'm suspicious is that it was too cheap!!! It was about $40 USD!! Maybe it was a mistake on the part of the seller.

The photos were taken in sunlight, so you can see every defect magnified



You can't really see in these photos, but it has a bit of luster.



The green you can see looks crusty in the photo, but it's more of a sheen. The scratches are not as harsh as they look, and resembles some vigorous rubbing with a thumb.

Here are the colors: No enhancement in Photoshop, they are as you can see.

 

Why not go over to either Ginza Coins or Taisei and ask for their opinion. Both are reputable Tokyo dealers. I bought an 1875 Trade Dollar from Taisei in an auction. It is likely an AU-50 (jun-mishiyou). I think my Japanese is correct.

 

I managed to find Meiji year 13, and year 14 one Yen coins on the weekend (at the Yamato market), filling spaces in my one Yen collection.
The year 13 is heavily chop marked, but still has some luster.
The year 14 has an Osaka gin mark, nice luster and one small chop mark

The seller gave me a bit of a lesson on chop marks, and said that while Japanese don't like chop marks, he sees more Chinese (coming from mainland China) who like chop marks, because of where the chops are from in China.

 

Now you have really pique my interest! Chop marks from China on One yen coins? I would have never thought that. I wonder how the coins have found their respective ways back to Japan? I had associated gin marks with local traders throughout Japan. Thank you for this information.