Here are two Japanese 5 Yen coins, year 33 (1957), the big key date of the series. These coins are being sold by two different stores online. Are these the same "error," or counterfeits? Coin #1 http://www.ebay.com/itm/182338847877?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT Coin #2 http://www.ebay.com/itm/CIRCULATED-1957-5-YEN-JAPANESE-COIN-111616-1/222318802013?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid=333008&algo=RIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=39107&meid=390bf4de483448d1b0ae3b6205d2ee22&pid=100011&rk=1&rkt=12&sd=182338847877
No error is listed, true. But the pattern of 'damage' on the coins is exactly the same, from what I can tell by looking at these coins. One telltale point is the damage pattern from 5 o'clock to 10 o'clock on the obverses of both coins (rice, gear, water-design side of the coin). There is indeed a similar, mirror-image damage pattern on the reverse. Perhaps they are authentic coins with a "peeling lamination" error, struck through something, or the damage is a result of die damage, and come from the same batch of coins? The thing that makes me think that they may be fakes is the fact that the Japan Mint had hardly EVER allowed mint-damaged coins to be released into circulation. Error coins from the Osaka Mint are exceedingly rare. Also, there is a slight "bubbliness" to the artifact on the reverse of the coin at 2 to 4 o'clock.
Eceedingly rare is the same as possible. You remind me of a certain British member on this forum who once told me that the British frown upon error coins and have no interest in them at all. Then he stated that British Mint errors are non existing and that there are no known samples.. That's when I proceeded to show him at least 6 very well known errors that have escaped the British Mint. For example - struck on wrong planchet
It is the "exceedingly rare errors" aspect to these coins that makes me not certain about their authenticity. Possible, sure! I made no claim that they are absolutely fake, btw. I did not say Osaka Mint errors are NON-existent. But why do they also just happen to be the key date of the series? If they are authentic, I'm leaning toward "struck-through" error.
The links point to 5 Yen coins (五円) and the JNDA catalog lists Year 33 (昭和三十三年) as 1958, but the coin shown is Year 32 (昭和三十二年) or 1957. In my opinion, the pictures that remain aren't clear enough to really determine anything (I can't seem to zoom in on them, so I may just be too late to the page). That one sold for $2.50 says a lot. I can't imagine anyone spending time counterfeiting this series, but would someone counterfeit an error? I don't know. If someone did it seems like they would have advertised it as such and gone for a price much higher than $2.50. The vast majority of Japanese coins after the 1950s are unbelievably common. This particular year probably serves as the key because there were only 10,000,000 minted as opposed to 45,000,000 and 50,000,000 in contiguous years. Regardless, the JNDA catalog prices year 27 (昭和二十七) or 1952, much higher than year 32 in high grades, but Year 32 prices higher in lower grades. So now I'm not sure which year to consider the key. All are pretty easily obtained in any case.
I'm still not sure about the coins in the 5 Yen and 10 Yen series and their average condition and their availability in Mint State. Still learning these two... I do get what you're saying about mintages and relative prices. However, I see some of these 1950s Japanese coins in Mint State (usually graded examples) going for exorbitant prices way beyond catalogue price at online venues. So, this throws my understanding of the "average condition" of the existing coins, making me think that they are far less common than the catalogue makes one believe.
No apology necessary. I was the one who was not convinced that these are errors, and I was leaning toward counterfeit. The simple fact is, they could very well be struck through errors or damaged die errors. Ewomack's comment really made me reconsider: Why the low prices? Counterfeits are made for the purpose of making money. Nobody's making much money at this price.
What are the odds that it is the same coin where one buyer bought it and decided to sell it right away?
Hey, gx!~ Yes, I considered that. I asked the seller, and he said that both were being sold by two of his different stores.
So both are being sold by the same owner but through two different accounts with auctions ending almost three weeks apart. My bet is it is the same coin. Notice the description is almost identical on both auctions as well. THIS COIN MAY HAVE BEEN POLISHED OR NON ABRASIVELY CLEANED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER. APPEARS TO MAY HAVE BEEN NON ABRASIVELY POLISHED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER This is someone who doesn't like the selling price so he is just selling it again.
