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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Sullykerry2, post: 3524665, member: 57121&quot;]Welcome to the world of collecting Japanese coins!&nbsp; One of the better sources for Japanese coins is the catalog published by the Japan Numismatic Dealers Association (JNDA).&nbsp; The 2019 catalog in Japan costs yen 1,500 (about $15).&nbsp; Certain U.S. dealers may also have copies to sell.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for your specific questions the Man&#039;en period was very short beginning in March 1860 and ending in February 1861.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Meiji Restoration occurred in 1868 but the reformed coinage was not issued until 1870 (5 sen and gold 5 yen only).</p><p><br /></p><p>In the interim, you had the Meiji government using the old Oban, koban and bu denominations.&nbsp; The difference between a Man&#039;en 2 bu (JNDA ref. 09-28 ) and Meiji 2 Bu (JNDA ref. 09-29) would be gold purity as you stated and the dating in kanji - the Chinese characters. Both coins weigh 3.00 grams.&nbsp; The two different Paulownia leafs refer to the markings denoting the Meiji period or the shortened Man&#039;en period. Prior to the Man&#039;en period you had Ansei and some of those coins will be nearly identical to the Man&#039;en.&nbsp; I hope I haven&#039;t confused you too much.&nbsp; If you can read Chinese or Japanese, discerning which coin is which may be easier.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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