Impulse Purchase! Japan Yen. Can You help me date it??

Meltdown

I couldn't pass this up yesterday. I think it has just the perfect amount of circulation, luster and tarnish. I don't even know how to read the date (the shop owner didn't either)
I figured someone here could help me out... Feel free to comment as well.

Zohar

@Stork

MasonG

The coin is dated Meiji Yr. 22, which is 1889.

BillDugan1959

I am pleased, I did figure out that it was year 22!

Meltdown

Thanks! Pretty nice eh?

Stork

@Meltdown said:
Thanks! Pretty nice eh?

Too late to say anything other than YES, very nice That one would be hard to resist.

Insider2

In the bottom image, there are six Japanese characters on the right side behind the dragon. Perhaps one of the experts here can interpret them for us so we'll be able to decipher the dates on other coins.

MasonG

The "=" is 2, the "+" is ten. 2x10+2=22

edited to add image, the picture shows year 32.

Stork

Here is a page on the coin dates in general. Should have linked this last night. There are more links on the bottom of the page. The LionsCoins link is the first one I ever looked at.

starcityhomer.com/reading-japanese-coins.html

Meltdown

Very helpful. Thanks guys.