Hi everyone. I am new here and was hoping for some expertise on some old coins I found while cleaning out the house. I was given these coins about 26 years ago when I was in primary school from a friends father who was originally from Austria, but immigrated to Australia. It is not magnetic, weighs about 26 grams, diameter of 39mm and 2.5mm thick. I am not sure what year it is and was wondering what it would be worth? Thanks
It's year Meiji 12 or 1879. 1879 is an extremely rare date and the likelihood of being a counterfeit is very high. Diameter should be 38.6 mm. Weight should be 26.98 grams. Better pictures are needed, but my first opinion is that it is counterfeit.
The surface looks questionable. But they are attractive coins! I have always wanted to own one, but ebay bidders gouge the living heck out of them (even common dates are pricey), and my local coin shop never receives these. Kind of stuck here.
That entire bottom legend "416 One Yen 900" looks flaky to me, and I have never seen a die crack (or whatever) like runs through the Y of yen. Pass. edit / now I notice the crack runs clear across the diameter of the obverse and comes out at the top. Big Pass.
Thanks for the help on this matter. When you say 'big pass' I assume you mean it's a big fat fake. Can't believe it after having it for 26 years!!
It is unfortunately a counterfeit. Countefeits can exist pretty much as soon as such coins are released in the public.
