Japanese silver coins in silver coasters

There are ten of these in a fitted box, nine of them having what appears to be one type coin (no english characters) and one having the coin with '416 ONE YEN 900'. They were made in 1950 for my uncle, who was an Army Air Corps MSgt stationed in Japan for the entire occupation. I have provenance documentation. I believe the coins are removeable, as they appear to be pressed into the coasters, but wonder about potential damage to the edge milling from the process of removal. Each coaster weigh approximately 115 grams.

My questions are: What are these coins? I have not been able to identify them at all. And, what approximate value MAY they have, if they can be safely removed from the coasters?

I'm glad to have found your site, and look forward to an overdue education by using it. Thank you!

 

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If your coins are real, one of them, at least, is quite valuable-- it is dated 1870, and is the old type of one-yen silver coin, which commands a hefty premium here in Japan. I don't have my Japanese price guidebook handy, but I could look it up a little later. The other coin (with the English inscription) is 1903, worth a little less.

 

Another thing-- the 416 refers to the coin's weight in grains, and the 900 refers to its fineness (900/1000, or 90% silver) By comparison, the Morgan dollar is 412 1/2 grains, 900/1000 fine.

 

Thanks for your reply, and the information it contains. I'm assuming that they are recoverable from the coasters. I feel badly about 'losing' the art and effort of the maker (a Mr. Nagata, from Tokyo) but times change, and I've very little use for ten silver coasters. Best wishes...

 

OK, I have been able to check my Japanese reference catalog, and your 1870 one-yen coin is of the "Seikai" variety, and retails for $500-600 in average condition (yours appears to be better). The 1903 one-yen coin is a common date and the retail price starts out at about $20 at coin shows.

Could you post some pictures of the other coins?

 

Yes, I can. I assume you refer to the others without english. When I posted those original four, that was an imposed limit...I wasn't allowed to add more than four pics to the query. If you'll allow me to have your email address (probably all I gotta do is look for it here, eh?) I will send them direct. I've also rummaged up a few other odd asian silver cartwheel-sized coins...pics of them aren't available yet, but soon. Thanks...

 

The 1870 1 yen is indeed scarce but as far as I can tell, I'm afraid to tell that it's cleaned and possibly damaged depending how it is soldered (?) to the silver coaster. Nevertheless, I am sure you might be better off selling it as it is as there are people willing to pay good money in such jewelery setting. Please do feel free to post more pictures where possible.

 

As a coaster and the info you have it could fetch a preimum as is. I would not attemp to remove it from the coaster. You need a jewler to do the work and a really good one at that. I love the coins and would love to see other pictures. Ice

 

They're pressed into the trays from the front face, and not soldered. One of the trays is highly polished, as is the coin in it...but the others are, in that sense, unblemished. I'll probably offer them as they are, but nothing has been decided yet. If you'll send me your email address, I'll send more pics.

 

Why don't you either post your pictures on a website somewhere and post a link here at Coin Talk, or post your pictures in multiple postings within the same thread. That way we can all look at them and give you our comments.

 

Excellent pieces... this is like an episode of Antique Roadshow.

Before you consider any dismantling of the coasters, I'd do an extensive search into the background of this Mr. Nagata (from Tokyo). If he turns out to be some sort of master artisan, the coasters would be worth much more whole.

You wouldn't want to be like one of those people that refinish old antique furniture!

 

I don't have the skill (or resource, I don't believe) to post offsite and add a link here. As there are 20 faces (18, if the 1903 One Yen is excluded) to post, that's a stretch if it has to be done 4 or 5 at a time. I thought I saw where the limit here for attachments was 10, but I keep running up against the 5 limit. I would very much like you all to see and comment on them, though. I'll figure something out.

I have done a cursory search (Google) for a Mr. Nagata, Silversmith in Tokyo, but without success. 1950 was a while ago, and though his work is magnificent I wonder if it was (then) unique. Uncle tells of folks offering ancient treasures for a pittance during his time there (1945-1952). I wonder, though, as you do...who was this person, and what have I really got? Thank you for your interest and counsel.

 

1870 (?) ONE YEN in COASTERS (one)

OK...here we go. Note the white ID in the upper LH corner. Also, all of these appear 'golden' because I don't have a clue about lighting. They are all bright white silver.

 

1870 (?) ONE YEN in COASTERS (two)

Second page...

 

1870 (?) ONE YEN in COASTERS (three)

Third page...

 

1870 (?) ONE YEN in COASTERS (four)

Fourth page...

 

Outstanding coins yes some have been cleaned but just beautiful coins. I see there is some writing on the coaster themselves. Is it possible someone could translate that? Ice

 

Again, amazing pieces!

 

Roughly, the translation is (I have been told): Presented to(or comissioned by) Sgt. and Mrs. Leonard B. Whittier. (Anyone who can do a better job of translation is certainly welcome to attempt it). Interestingly enough, the nine with the 1870 coins are all engraved in what I was told was 'modern' script, while the one with the 1903 coin was done in 'classic' or older-style characters. The difference is obvious, but beyond what you see, I'm without clue.

 

Pics for translators

Sorry, I forgot that there were no full pics of these. Here's a few to admire...hope there's enough detail of the engraving.