I have just got two Japanese Kuanei Tsuho coins in a job lot, and while I can identify them up to the point where I can say that one is old type and the other new type (at least I think that's the case), I can't identify the mint mark on the reverse. Can you experts please assist/ The old type coin is 22.4mm, 2.0g and the other 22.4mm, 2.2g.
While you are waiting for the Japanese coin experts, I thought I might as well make a fool of myself and make a guess. As you may know, I do not know anything about Japanese coins. But based on my knowledge of Chinese coins, the character may not be a mint mark at all. The character appears to be the Chinese character "yuan". I do not know the Japanese pronunciation (gen??) but on Chinese coins this character usually means the "first" as in the first year a coin was cast. I did a quick search on Japanese coins and your "new" type looks similar to the fourth coin down at this web page. Don't take any of my comments too seriously, though, since I am really totally ignorant of Japanese coinage. Gary
Spot on Manymore. I've done a bit of digging in a book I recently acquired (had forgotten about it!) - Munro Coins of Japan published 1904. He states: A number of the Kwanei sen have the character Gen or Gan signifying beginning or commencement, on the reverse.....These sen were cast at Takatsu, city of Osaka, in the province of Settsu, in the first year, or commencemet, of Kwampo, 1741, hence the character on the reverse. He also describes a coin with the character Ashi on the reverse. This indicates a coin cast in the village of Ashio, Shimotsuke province in the 2nd year of Kwampu, 1742. I have found one of these in my job lot, so am quite pleased, although I don't collect japanese coins. The thrill of the chase?
