Japan series: A very uncommon coin for a very common cash coin

Judging from the last 2 strokes of the 寶，yours would be a later Kanei. As for the variant I think it would be likely the Yoshidajima variant 4.181 (Hartill).

 

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thanks LS!

 

You're welcome

 

Weighed it. 3.83g.

 

I have to admit, I had to look it up before commenting as I have never seen anything like this before.

My first impression is that this coin looks a bit too neat considering that all coins from that era were cast. It could just be the photos and therefore some details are lost. This is an example that was sold by a dealer: http://www.saganokosen.jp/kaneitsuho.ginsen.html

 

@gxseries .. The one you linked is a silver cast piece belonging to the older Kanei series (ko Kanei). Notice the legs of 寶 are closely joined as opposed to the one I listed. The one I listed is a New or Shin Kanei. Casting methods have refined after about a century or so of casting. In addition, silver pieces like these were likely commemorative or special occasion mintages like I described and we're not intended for circulation. Thus likelihood of wear is lower.