Hello, I just found a box of 1 yen coins from Meiji and thought I'd look up what they're worth. I do not know the first thing about collecting so I searched few sites and figured out that the Meiji yen could go for anything between $20 to $50. I did completed item search on ebay and yahoo auction Japan as well and last week the Meiji 3 yen sold for around $320 - is this an average price? I could not find any info on the Meiji 10 trade dollars. I have 3 of those. If someone could take a quick look and let me know what's worth what more or less I'd really appreciate it Naoko PS; Here are the links to the 300dpi scans of all of the 39 coins: Meiji 3nen (8 coins) http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-03.jpg Meiji 8nen (6 coins) http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-08.jpg Meiji 9nen (4 coins) http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-09.jpg Meiji 10nen trade dollar (x3) http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-10-trade-dollar.jpg Meiji 12 and 14nen http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-12-14.jpg Meiji 20 to 29nen (8 coins) http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-20-29.jpg Meiji 30 to 36nen (5 coins) http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-30-36.jpg Meiji 43 (x1) and 44nen (x2) http://crucialxtimes.com/ebay/coins/meiji-43-44.jpg
Before I take the time to print out all your photos in order to compare them in detail to known pictures of genuine coins, I'd like to know the weights and diameters of each coin. Some of the yen should be 38.6mm, some should be 38.1mm, and the Trade Dollars should be 38.58mm, and noticeably thicker than the yen. All of the yen should weigh 26.96g and the TDs should be 27.22g. The great majority (but definitely not all) Chinese counterfeits weigh in at about 25g, with diameters all over the 38-39mm map. BTW the link that is supposed to be to the Meiji 20-28 (1887-95) coins duplicates the link to the 12-14 coins.
Hello Hontonai! Thanks for all your help! I am off to work now but I will buy some more precise measuring tools on a way back home, other than a school ruler and a kitchen scale and will post the numbers a little later on! Thanks again! Also, the link is fixed now as well!
I think the "trade dollars" are fakes, judging just by the English lettering, which looks like it was engraved by an amateur.
So I put them on a scale and ALL of those coins clocked in at around 19g which means they are all counterfeits. At least I've learnt something new today Thanks a lot for all the help!
EBay Any flea market in China Overstock.com Seizedpropertyauctions.com and on and on and on And never overlook places like
Yeah, those wacky uncles-- their closets are just like Fibber McGee's-- no telling what you might find in them if you snoop around long enough.
