I'm trying to make sure that I'm not talking myself into this being a key date. What date do you make it out to be? I'm making out the 6 pretty easily, but don't see any modifiers (Japanese dates are often written like year 12 = 2 + 10, with the date being relative to a fixed event). Year 6 has 2 varieties and I believe would be 1873. https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide...-yr.101877-yr.91876-cuid-1132168-duid-1449724
It is Meiji year 6, 明治六年, so, as said, 1873. There does appear to be a rare variety in that year, but otherwise it's pretty standard mintage and value.
Unfortunately that is the common variety. Here is the distinction, it depends on whether or not the top cross stroke is present or absent. Not fancy, but it was from photos on hand and is comparing a blast white UNC to a toned up AU... (and they weren't taken at the same time so the rotations don't meet up).
I always hope, but there's a reason the rare varieties are rare. Especially when looking at a 140 year old coin, the odds are the variety would have already been picked. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! [I'm still always happy to pick coins like this up near melt value]
Thanks, @Stork for your clear, easily understood, explanation of the differences in varieties. It's individuals whose efforts like yours that makes Coin Talk valuable, and interesting, to me
