Anyone collect Japanese coinage pre 1930? I am interested...Yen Shu Sen

Aspie_Rocco

Any collectors of Yen, Sen, Shu, etc?
I would like to establish a dialogue and perhaps some guidance/tutorials/pointers...

Timbuk3

I do !!!

Aspie_Rocco

@Timbuk3 said:
I do !!!

Tell me stuff, if you have time and do not mind. I am hungry for information regarding these coins.

Aspie_Rocco

10 sen Coins of the Meiji era 1873-1906.
Made with .800 silver
Weight 2.695 grams
Seems to have been the equivalent of a dime at 1/10 Yen value

1870
Early reverse was different apparently

1896
At some point the reverse was changed to this design

1905

Pictures from eBay
Based on information found on CoinFacts

WorldCoinsDmitry

It's better if you have some more specific questions. A general "tell me all about these" is kind of difficult to address.

Aspie_Rocco

I guess I am accustomed to the US coin forum where there is more activity and people volunteer information. I do not know much about these early Meiji era coins, I am trying to learn. I do not have specific questions because I know very little to ask about. Since information has not appeared I have made an attempt to share some I found. A laughable effort apparently. I guess google will have to provide.

Aspie_Rocco

Who knows what the story is on the “Gin” counterstamps?

Who knows about the different types and varieties in these early series?

Has anyone here sent coins like these for grading at Pcgs? How much info would be needed to ID one on the paper work/ sub form?

Timbuk3

PM sent !!!

WorldCoinsDmitry

@Aspie_Rocco said:
Who knows what the story is on the “Gin” counterstamps?

From an old and very informative post by member satootoko on the CoinTalk forum:

Applying the distinctive "Gin" counterstamp had an entirely dfferent historical purpose. In October, 1897 Japan revalued the gold yen, and changed from a combination silver/gold standard to an exclusively gold standard. For the next six months the silver yen were exchangeable for gold. Part of the demonetized silver coins were melted for use in minting subsidiary coins, and the rest were shipped to Taiwan for use as bullion silver. Before being exported, they were countermarked with the character for silver, in a circle, to prevent them from being returned to Japan for another shot at exchange for gold. (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/chopmarks.4557/)

Aspie_Rocco

awesome information @WorldCoinsDmitry
Thank you

Aspie_Rocco

Got a new coin today

Timbuk3

Nice, congratulations !!!

asheland

I don't really know anything about them, but they have attractive designs.

Timbuk3

PM sent !!!

Stork

@Aspie_Rocco I haven't logged in for a month or so and look what I missed! A new Japanese coin collector . My favorite collecting activity has been Japanese coins.

There are so many ways to approach, and even just deciding how far back in time to go is part of the fun.

At one point I started a website which, among other things, has a section on Japanese coins including some basic information and references. There are some spots I have yet to finish, and that is going to be my New Years thing. I just can't get to it right now.
starcityhomer.com/japan--general.html
That is the general landing page, but if you use the drop down menus on the top there are sections on dating, as well as photos of most of the modern coin types (not including the colorized silver and commemoratives). I need to add more on errors and fill in other stuff, but it should give you something to look at if you are fairly new.

A fun way to collect is a type set. There is an elderly, out of print, Dansco for it. Sadly they are quite pricey, when you can find them. It only goes through the 1970 (depending on the edition) but is loads of fun to put together. I added a page on the website to show mine.starcityhomer.com/dansco-japan-type-set.html

Another thing I did was duplicate the set (mostly) in slabs. Before the website I made a custom set over at NGC to do a virtual Dansco to present them...it was long enough ago I don't think the really cool PCGS albums were up and running yet either. Someday I'd like to figure out the system over here and will do a set over here too--that or really buff up the website. In general, I love the raw coins, but my collecting history make/made slabs a necessity (overseas living and 98% internet purchasing) so the vast majority of my nicer coins are in TPG slabs. I'm not sure I can do the expense of crossing all my coins into any one company's slabs, but PCGS has really done a great job recently in terms of adding proper types and using the JNDA numbers.

Anyway, this is the NGC set. It is organized to mirror the Dansco, which makes more sense when you are actually looking AT the Dansco. Basically organized by era, denomination, design type. https://coins.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=15668

Well, anyway, I am likely to log off for another month or so, but feel free to PM if you'd like. I should get an email if you do.

Aspie_Rocco

Thanks for the info Stork I will check out the links.

The newest dragon 🐉 in my den

Swampboy

My 2 Shu