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Message:: [QUOTE="The Eidolon, post: 7400909, member: 102103"]Comparing two Japanese 1 Mon Kaneitsuhou coins by character variations:Left:  24 mm, 3.80 g (slightly thicker)  Right:  24+ mm, 3.35 gHere are two almost identical-looking 1 mon coins.Hartill's "Early Japanese Coins" has a character variant section pp 40-42.[ATTACH=full]1287291[/ATTACH] For example, if you look at the right character, "tsu" (通), you can see that the right coin has the "long tsu" variant of the radical which surrounds the left and bottom sides of the character.  The other one has a normal "tsu".  Only a few coins have the "long tsu" variant, so it narrows that one down to a type issued by Jakkoji Temple in the city of Nikko starting in 1737 (series end date unknown).[ATTACH=full]1287293[/ATTACH] The leftthand coin has a variant for the character "hou" (寶) in which the two legs at the bottom touch and are formed from a single stroke.  This is the "6 stroke hou" variant found in the Old Kanei series (1636-40) as well as some iron coins of Kameido and Kosuge.  This one appears to be copper, so it's probably an "Old Kanei" type.  On some Old Kanei coins, the mint can be distinguished by minor character variations, but many are not attributable except for the Old Kanei series, official issues (Hartill 4.10-4.55).[ATTACH=full]1287294[/ATTACH]   The reverses are unadorned.[ATTACH=full]1287310[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]