Slowly working my way through imaging this set. Got the 5 Li face values done Except for the one I'm missing. Started on the 1 Fen face values today; got 8 done but there are a bunch more. Here's one example that I did today: 1933 Ta-t'ung 1 Fen I'll try to get 7 more done tomorrow but that may not happen. Friday's are lunch at the Pub. I tend to be a bit fuzzy after that.
I have finished imaging the 1 Fen values. The war seems to have been putting a crimp in copper usage for coins. The Japanese switched to aluminum part way through 1939. And the coins kept getting smaller. And then it got worse in 1945. The new medium is listed as "fiber". 1942 1 Fen (19mm) 1944 1 Fen (16mm) And finally 1945 1 Fen (16mm & Fiber) Krause lists the fiber issues in two colors, red and brown. But the consensus is that the brown variety is just a dirty/stained version of the red coin. Onward to the 5 Fen coins.
I don't handle it any more than I have to. A quick placement into a 2x2 and that's it. It's light, probably something like pressboard.
Here is a 5 fen "fiber" I purchased within the last few weeks. An upgrade from a more circulated piece. These are fairly sturdy, more like plastic. I purchased another a while back and the envelope arrived with tire marks (typical treatment by my carrier at the time) and the coin cracked in two.
Here's an older thread that had some discussion. Between a translation of the JNDA, and the old Jacobs and Vermeule book, and the Cummings book there was a bit more detail on the fiber coins. Basically the 'fiber' is also translated as 'magnesite'. Guessing it's a component. It would be interesting to ask a Japanese numismatist this question. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-side-collection-china-under-japanese-occupation.298271/
LOL That's a post that I started. I had forgotten all about it. But at my age "forgetting" is normal for many people.
Yep, I vaguely remembered the post and was googling to find it...and I had responded to it 2-3 times . It was the red fiber/magnesite conversation which is why it stuck out in my mind. I was cracking books for that one! I'm headed to NYINC and usually find 1-2 Japanese dealer types (well, one guy in particular) and will try to remember to ask.
That is interesting--did you keep the broken one? If it's more of a hard/plastic-y thing that would make more sense for what I googled about magnesite. Vs. a cardboard-y type of thing. I really aught to buy one of these someday!
Actually, I did. Couldn't see myself throwing a tiny piece of history in the trash. Glued it back together with wood glue. I forgot that it actually broke into four pieces. Looks much better when not under the close scrutiny of a USB microscope. I think was the rarer date and that is why I purchased it in such bad condition to begin with.
Well, I managed to NOT get done what I wanted to today. The football games ate up a bunch of time. But I also found that there are two varieties of the China-Japanese Puppet States - Manchukuo 1936 5 Fen, Wide Border and Narrow Border. I spent a LOT of time trying to track down the differences. I think(?) I've got it but I'm not sure. It appears the difference is NOT obvious. I might try searching some more but there doesn't seem to be much out there about it.
I've completed this set a whole back. Only 50 coins but it's absurdly difficult. 1936 5 Fen normal 1936 5 Fen wide rim There also an undocumented narrow rim 1933 5 Fen normal 1933 5 Fen narrow rim - no idea if this is an actual variety I've been through at least a few hundred Manchukuo coins and this is the only Manchukuo error coin that I found. Poor condition but I haven't come across another rotated die error like this. Only seen another one that was sold previously.
The Krause catalog mentions the Greek border. Apparently that refers to the "squiggles" just inside the rim. I think that's the PUP for "wide" vs. "narrow" rims. What you refer to as "normal" may be the "narrow" rim. Or as Krause calls it, "border design".
Hooray, I finally got the narrow and wide borders identified. I was looking at the wrong feature; I was looking at the rim. The key is the design just INSIDE of the rim. Here they are: Turns out that I had both varieties already.
