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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;svessien, post: 7185111, member: 15481&quot;]I really like the tiger tongue.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s another coin type from Asia that’s a bit odd and curious, the Japanese Bu:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1274858[/ATTACH]</p><p>Japan, 2 Bu-ban-kin</p><p><br /></p><p>Edo mint 1868-69 AD (Meiji year 2-3).</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: Kiri crests top and bottom, in the center the value</p><p><br /></p><p>Lettering: 分 二 Translation: 2 Bu</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: Characters for the Mint Official and his signature</p><p><br /></p><p>Lettering: 光 次 Translation: Mitsutsugu</p><p><br /></p><p>Size: 19.8 x 12.0mm Weight: 2.98g</p><p><br /></p><p>Composition: Electrum Conservation: gVF</p><p><br /></p><p><i>The obverse has Kiri crests above and below. These crests represent the flower of the Paulownia tree, which is significant in Japanese religion and culture. There is a link between Japanese trees and deities (isn’t that lovely?). Deities Miwa and Ise are identified with the Paulownia cedar. These ever green trees also symbolize the eternal return of time, and represent the Shinto festivals.</i></p><p><i>It’s often planted when a girl is born, and will mature at the same time as her. It also summons a Phoenix that brings good luck to the house where it is planted, and the flowers can be used for medicine. It’s called «the tree of life».</i></p><p><i>Now that’s one heck of a tree.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>[ATTACH=full]1274859[/ATTACH] </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Japan, 1837-54 AD. 1 Bu Gin, Tenpō.</i></p><p><i>Obverse: Incuse stamp 定 (= Jo) over 4 kanji in rectangle surrounded by 30 sakuras (cherry blosoms) one of them inverted.</i></p><p><i>Bottom left 2 strokes of 是 cross.</i></p><p><i>Lettering: </i></p><p><i>定</i></p><p><i>常銀</i></p><p><i>是座</i></p><p><i>Translation: Guaranteed Ginza (Silver Mint) Joze (Mint Official)</i></p><p><i>Reverse: Three vertical kanji in rectangle surrounded by 30 sakuras (cherry blossoms), one of them inverted.</i></p><p><i>Lettering: </i></p><p><i>一</i></p><p><i>分</i></p><p><i>銀</i></p><p><i>Translation: 1 bu silver</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Size: 24.6 x 16.9mm Weight: 8.73g </i></p><p><i>Composition: Silver Conservation: EF</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Reference: # 16, JNDA# 09-50, DHJ# 9.80 Pos: P o</i></p><p><i></i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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