Japanese Samurai Money, Small Gold and Silver Bars from the Meiji Era

I had one of the Isshuban gin. It is the smaller silver that has dots around it instead of 'stars' or 'asterisks' along the border. These silver ones look like they have been cleaned! The era for those ended around 1865 same as the Civil War in the USA. Over a period of 100+ years silver will tarnish.

 

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I love these and some future project is to get more of the pre-Meiji and Meiji pre-moderns. I've got a small handful for 'type', but nothing extensive. Same with the round bronze. A lot like this would be fun to go through and learn.

What are your favorite books (or websites) for attributing them? I have the JNDA which gets me only so far and I know enough to know there are some important calligraphy differences. Also the Hartill book-- https://www.amazon.com/Early-Japane...=japanese+coins+hartill&qid=1580324706&sr=8-1 which is very useful.

And, do you mind sharing where you bought the lot? I left NYINC with some money left in my pocket (shocking, I know) and maybe a, perhaps smaller, group like this would be a good way to deploy the funds.

 

I also want to get some in mintstate. I have a MS-64 BU Tempo era. Hard to find Kobans in Mintstate.

 

You can find in David Hartill's Early Japanese Coins an extensive description of these coins. As for prices, they can be anywhere between USD 20 for silver to well over USD 100 for gold depending on mint location. Good luck

 

Here are mine. They were my great Uncle's. He thought they were Chinese, but after reading this thread I think they're Japanese too. APpears there are chop marks on mine too.

 

Yes Japanese. Is this the mark you mean? It's normal.

 

Hmm! The kanji character can be read as "tei" which can be interpreted as to decide or to be fixed. My uneducated guess is that it is a chopmark. I have seen on various yen coins but not on an Isshu gin.

 

Thanks folks. Is anyone to provide any information about these? E.g. year, mint, location, etc.?

 

The Hartill book and the JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Association) hand book cite the Edo mint (present day Tokyo). However a few mints existed outside of Tokyo i.e. Yamagata Domain which is now part of Yamagata Prefecture in NW Honshu.

 

Any chance I could get insight on this? I believe it is 5.11g. Previous owner had it listed as 1750 Japan.

 

The characters read Ichi-bun. The six dots likely represent which daimyo (prefectural lord) minted the coin. I have not seen this type before. My reference books do not show a coin with the dots. I will do more research and get back to you.

 

I'm very grateful, thank you very much!

 

Here's a similar not very valuable but very collectable!

 

@David Betts: The picture is upside down so I stood on my head to read it. The Japanese lettering (Kanji) reads Tempo Tsuho. The coin was likely minted around 1830 during the Tempo period (Heavenly Protection) of Emperor Ninko (1817-1846).

 

lol ur accurate it is 1835 100 mon tempo tswho pg 1151 world book! good job

 

Any luck looking this up? I'm hoping it's not a counterfeit

 

@Seattlelite86: I wouldn't call it a counterfeit. However, none of my reference books list it which troubles me. I am beginning to think it may have been used as a temple offering or token of some sort. I therefore can ascribe a value to it.