For 20+ years I've worked on a worldwide birthyear set, 1941 in my case. I use the Krause catalog as my source to identify what exists and how much it's worth. According to the catalog in 1941 Japan issued two varieties of the 10 sen coin. The difference between the two is only in the weight. The first (Y#61) weighs 1.5000 gms. The second (Y#61a) weighs 1.2000 gms. The first catalogues for slightly less than the second indicating to me that it's slightly more common. Of the 8-10 I've had over the years all have been the 1.2000 gm variety In theory based on catalog value they should have been divided about 50/50 between the two varieties. The Krause catalog is NOT noted for its accuracy. Is there something not mentioned by them that would solve the problem of me not being able to find the 1.5000 gm variety?
DO NOT rely on Krause for accurate values of Japanese coins! The Japanese Numismatic Dealers Assn. Catalog lists the same prices for both varieties of 1941 10 sen coins. During WW II (roughly 1937-45 in Southeast Asia) there were repeated devaluations of Japanese coins effected through weight reductions. I've never kept track, but I have seen many of the 1.2gm and 1.5gm versions over the last 30 years or so that I have seriously collected Japanese coinage. Keep looking!
Got it! I'll look around for a better one but this one is plenty good for now. Lots! This is my second try for a birthyear set. I got reasonable close the first time. I was missing all the high value coins (no surprise there). Leaving out GB&BC coins this time will make it somewhat easier. The pricy ones are: -- the gold issues from the Vatican -- Iran -- select values for a half dozen or so other countries I finished my US set several years ago. 1941 was a tough year. The WL is expensive in both business and proof strikes. And there are two varieties of the WL proof coins: with initials and without initials. Plus I got them all in either MS and PF -65 or -66.
