Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Finn235, post: 4393192, member: 98035&quot;]Very nice and informative thread! My first serious numismatic undertaking was a type set of non-gold, no-rarities Japanese coins - the end result was probably a bit lower grade than I would have put together today, but it is still one of my favorite collections.</p><p><br /></p><p>If I may contribute some of the missing coins...</p><p><br /></p><p>From 1870-71 the newly modernized Japanese mint minted a small number of silver and gold coins that foreshadowed the main &quot;dragon&quot; types of Meiji, but with an imperial crest reverse and the denomination on the front - these coins are the only Meiji to have no Latin numerals or letters whatsoever.</p><p><br /></p><p>5 sen, dragon type - generally considered to be a semi-key type, and commands healthy premiums for well-struck examples. These come in shallow and deep scale varieties - mine is shallow</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105249[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Early in 1871 the mint decided that the 5 sen were too difficult to strike properly, so the dragon was dropped and replaced with the denomination</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105250[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>10 sen shallow scales</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105251[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Deep scales</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105252[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>20 sen</p><p>Shallow scales</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105253[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Deep scales</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105254[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>50 sen</p><p>The initial design was about a mm larger, and had a larger dragon</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105255[/ATTACH]</p><p>In 1871 the diameter was reduced and the dragon was re-designed</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105256[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I actually won a (cheap!) 1870 yen that is currently stuck in COVID-19 limbo - hoping to have it by the end of the summer! 1870 yen are tough because not only are they quite rare and in high demand, but they are the target of numerous high-profile counterfeiting operations that strike the coins in period-correct silver with expertly made dies.</p><p><br /></p><p>Almost out of room in this post, so I will include a favorite - a 1945 clay sen</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105259[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Also the Taisho 5 rin that you alluded to- the last coin below 1 sen ever struck </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1105260[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in