1892 Japan Yen, "Extended Flame"

thecoinlook

While trying to figure out whether or not I had an extended flame, I was having
a tough time because it did appear as though there was a tiny first spine,
which would make the flame come between the 4th & 5th.

But then every coin I looked at on eBay was the same, so I was sure I did not hit a little jackpot.

I finally found a picture of an "extended flame", and it does not appear the flame is extended at all, but rather the size of the first spine.
Here are the pictures I have.
What do you think? I think it would be easier when searching to look for the long spine or short, since the flame seems in the same position.

"Extended"


Normal

HoledandCreative

Easy to distinguish since you picture both. Looks like a long spine to me. The flame is longer, too but you need pictures to be sure each time you see or think you see one. Just be sure the long spine is always on a longer flame. Like the Long Leaves variety on a French 10 Fr. coins, they begin to all look alike.

MichaelS

The Catalog of Japanese Coins also notes that the swirl on the pearl is different between those 2 varieties.

-Mike

Stork

Unfortunately I am at work with only my 2011 JNDA catalog...and no MLCs to help me read it (my older catalogs have my notes...). In any case, the catalog does show a line drawing clearly matching what you are showing, including the different swirl-of-the-pearl properties. That's a huge price differential!

Cathy

satootoko

<< <i>Unfortunately I am at work with only my 2011 JNDA catalog >>

And I'm 100+ miles from home where my JNDA catalogs and coins are located, so I'm even less help than Cathy!

However, I have seen (but don't own ) the variety and as I recall the catalog pictures are very accurate.