I just thought this short guide might be of help to someone. http://coinauctionshelp.com/TPGS_FORUM/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=1306 I also have guides for dating Japanese coins and explaining Roman Numerals. Here: http://coinauctionshelp.com/TPGS_FORUM/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=1363 and here: http://coinauctionshelp.com/TPGS_FORUM/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=1305
You have some very useful information there, but there is one small error and one important omission in your explanation of Japanese dates. The special character used for the first year of a reign is 元 (gan - First), not "gannen". The character 年 (nen - year) is the final character of every date, not just First Year. Example - both 2009CE (Heisei 21 - 平成二十一年 = Heisei nijuu ichi nen) and 1989CE (Heisei First = 平成元年 - Heisei gan nen) have the same final character. On pre-1948 coinage the date is read in the traditional right to left order. After that it is read in western-style left to right order. Because of that change, any explanation of Japanese coinage dating should point out that 年 is always the final character of a date and indicative of which direction to read on a given coin.
Thanks for pointing that out. I wasn't really 100% sure about 'gan' and 'nen', because I wasn't very familiar with them. I'll make the necessary changes.
Ok, I think everything is alright now. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction on that one. I'd hate to give someone bad information! Which name would you like me to use to give credit for the adjustment?
