Coin show at Tokyo--warning, lots of pictures including a couple of coins
Stork
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Well, I did get to go 
The official name was the TICC (Tokyo International Coin Convention) sponsored, as far as I can tell, by the Japanese Numismatic Dealers Association. Overall there were 59 dealers (if I counted right) plus a set-up from Heritage, PCGS (!) and the Japanese Red Cross Society (I have no idea what they were doing) and including 11 non-Japanese dealers (again, if I counted right). There were also set ups from 11 different mints.
I will try to tell my story in pictures...though I did cheat a little on the order they were taken. First up:
My youngest son when told he couldn't go to Tokyo with me, not the exact moment, but the exact face:
My house:
The cars: The ever famous Nissan Cube and Toyota Fun Cargo--who can't love a fun cargo???
Driving to work to park my car:
I left my car at work to walk to the train station:
This is known by the US people as "The Blue Street". The pavement has blue rock admixed within. The Japanese people thing we
are weird. There is a real name for it, but oh well. This is going up from the base and it's about 5 blocks to the Keikyu line station.
I forgot to take a picture coming into that station--it's attached to a large department store. In any case, I have a nice, reloadable fare card.
It works with this line, other lines, in vending machines, for cabs, at some restaurants etc. Basically, load it up and it's like a debit card. Very
Handy. I started the trip with 3300 yen (about $35 dollars) and ended with 1560...not too bad to get all the way to Tokyo (about an hour driving).
Okay, I'm going to split this up a little now. I will continue in the next post.
The official name was the TICC (Tokyo International Coin Convention) sponsored, as far as I can tell, by the Japanese Numismatic Dealers Association. Overall there were 59 dealers (if I counted right) plus a set-up from Heritage, PCGS (!) and the Japanese Red Cross Society (I have no idea what they were doing) and including 11 non-Japanese dealers (again, if I counted right). There were also set ups from 11 different mints.
I will try to tell my story in pictures...though I did cheat a little on the order they were taken. First up:
My youngest son when told he couldn't go to Tokyo with me, not the exact moment, but the exact face:
My house:
The cars: The ever famous Nissan Cube and Toyota Fun Cargo--who can't love a fun cargo???
Driving to work to park my car:
I left my car at work to walk to the train station:
This is known by the US people as "The Blue Street". The pavement has blue rock admixed within. The Japanese people thing we
are weird. There is a real name for it, but oh well. This is going up from the base and it's about 5 blocks to the Keikyu line station.
I forgot to take a picture coming into that station--it's attached to a large department store. In any case, I have a nice, reloadable fare card.
It works with this line, other lines, in vending machines, for cabs, at some restaurants etc. Basically, load it up and it's like a debit card. Very
Handy. I started the trip with 3300 yen (about $35 dollars) and ended with 1560...not too bad to get all the way to Tokyo (about an hour driving).
Okay, I'm going to split this up a little now. I will continue in the next post.
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getting off the train
edited...ooops, this was supposed to be my 'looking for my transfer to the next train station picture'. I had to go from
the Keikyu line to the JR line. I can't find that picture, so pretend this is it. This was really a Shinagawa shot.
and having to figure out which way to take it.
Next was my arrival to the Tokyo Station and wondering which of the exits I should use to leave.
Basically I use my digital camera to figure out how to get home by taking pictures of the signs of where I've been. Fortunately,
as you can see, most of the signs have both the kanji and the roman lettered words. That's not true everywhere, then things are
a little more dicey and the photos really help.
I left the station, picked the wrong exit, and walked around outside until I found the taxi stand. The cab driver knew a bit of English
and I had my printout with the hotel where the convention was, yet somehow I still ended up taking a 1520 yen ride to the Royal Park TOWER.
So for another 1520 yen ride I got to the Royal Park HOTEL. A very nice young lady at the Tower wrote down the proper address for me to give to
the next cab driver. So...I finally arrived:
and followed the signs....
No pictures allowed of course.
I have to admit it was all very overwhelming at first. The rooms were set up so the Mint displays were in one area and it was fun to poke around those. I was
tempted by the Royal Mint...they had a 2009 one ounce proof silver Britannia (the chariot one) for 10,000 yen. Then I remembered I already have the full
set so, I skipped. The other mints included the South African Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, Monnaie de Paris, Singapore Mint and a few others. The Banco de
Mexico had some 5 and kilo sizes of the Libertad--horribly overpriced though I'm sure the BBL aspect would have made some of you guys happy.
The room with all the tables looked just like every other show set up. Not as many slabs, but there were a few. PCGS, NGC and old (tiny) ANACS were the only ones
I spotted.
PCGS had a table. Once I stopped and it was manned by a very nice young Japanese guy with impeccable English. The next time it was a Caucasian lady whose English was
not quite as good. Basically, they were just having a display with a few sample slabs, pens (yup I got one, thanks PCGS
to go through their partner dealers..about 5 or so there at the show. I knew two of them which was kind of funny.
One is Arrow Tokyo--a US expatriat who has been there for 20+ years. I'd talked some to him the last time I was in Japan. Very friendly, but busy this time.
Seems to do more business with the commemoratives/NCLT type stuff. I had emailed him way back in the beginning of my coin collection adventures looking for a
specific coin--I finally got that one this show, not from him, but it's in a lower down post.
Another PCGS dealer is World Coins, a Japanese shop I also had been to the last time I was here. Very nice, and very helpful with several speakers of most excellent English.
Of all things to catch my eye, they had some absolutely fun to look at Italian coins that I love. One was a big crown size quaddriga design, an old
Genoan coin (I'm blanking on the denomination, but it's also crown sized) with the double gryphon coat-of-arms, and an old Subalpine/Piedmont with
the figure of Italia and some other chick, who HAS to be about 6 months pregnant. I will own that coin someday.
NEN and Clark Smith had set ups there, which is funny as those are two sites I like to look at. Frequently. I figured out why Clark Smith splits out the Japanese coins on his website and has
a Japanese section. I'm assuming Yuki Smith is his wife
and a young Japanese lady to interpret. They (well, not the interpreter) looked sleepy. I did ask how they decide what to bring, and the answer was "we guess"
Again, no real time to chat, and frankly, in person I am not a chatter. They seemed to have a crowd the times I walked by so hopefully this was worthwhile for them.
In any case, the first pass through was overwhelming, so I just walked up and down the aisles once before I did anything else. At first it seemed like a blur of cases full of 1 yen
2x2s and commemoratives and mint sets. There really were some boxes/binders type set ups too. My official shopping needs were to upgrade some slots on my Dansco type set.
It's funny, I have a lot of the more modern era types that are dirt cheap in the catalog, yet finding a gem or near gem is next to impossible. I did score a few upgrades though.
Oh and a word on prices: Pretty much what is in the JNDA catalog is what you get. I did find a few little discrepancies on the things I looked at. The one coin I hope I don't regret let
getting away was a very, very sweet little 1871 5 yen, the rarer variety of rays, and absolutely gem. I have a very nice one already (choice and the more common variety) but I
just couldn't make myself upgrade to it at the full 80,000 yen catalog price. It was just the sort of gem to treasure, but ouch. I'd rather get something I don't need a magnifying glass
to fully appreciate. Hopefully I won't kick myself later, and later I will have that money still in my pocket when I find something cool.
Anyway, here are some out of focus, poorly lit examples of ones I got to fancy up my Dansco a bit--I'm only showing one side...I'll start these in the next post.
Cathy
edited to correct some grammar...I'm leaving the rest of the errors. I was not an English major.
<< <i>Looking for my next train, the JR Railway's Yamamote Line and having to figure out which way to take it. >>
Not really too important if you aren't in any hurry, since it's a loop and you can get to any station in either direction.
<< <i>Next was my arrival to the Tokyo Station and wondering which of the exits I should use to leave. >>
Always a problem at one of the largest, busiest train stations in the known world!
<< <i>Oh and a word on prices: Pretty much what is in the JNDA catalog is what you get. >>
Exactly my experience at the Osaka Coin Show a few years ago.
Sounds like you had a great time Cathy. I've never managed to be in Japan at TICC time, but maybe next year will be the charm. How much longer will you be there on this posting?
and chat. They didn't have a lot there (this was an excuse for a holiday for them) and they had less traffic. She was one of about 5 middle aged caucasian women
there. Including me. I'm pretty sure I was the only non-dealer associated one
1 sen 1938/Showa 13
10 yen 1957/Showa 32, this is the reeded edge version and one of less common dates
1 rin 1874/Meiji 7
5 yen 1951/Showa 26 with the kaisho styled lettering. My old one was one I'd gotten out of circulation the last time I was here. This one is Much Nicer.
5 rin 1917/Taisho 6
10 sen 1935/Showa 10
5 yen 1948/Showa 23
5 sen 1946/Showa 21, a tin coin and this the best I've gotten my mitts on so far. Still would like a little nicer one, but this one is better.
I'm still astonished at the low cataog values ($10 of less for a gem/near gem example, yet you would think there wouldn't be many nice ones left
given how poorly tin stands up as a coin metal).
50 sen 1946/Showa 21. This is a variant of the typical. I don't know how to describe it, perhaps it's a clashed die. But this is theoretically a 12,000 yen
version. Mine was only 6,000 so I suspect it was one of those very trendy 'finds' that is not so popular now. It was not listed in my earlier versions of the
catalog, I think just the 2009, possibly the 2008. Anyway. I likes it. It is another one that is otherwise common in theory (the normal version) yet I never saw
nice ones. It is going in the album
10 sen 1946/Showa 21. More than 50 years old and aluminum and still with luster and not a lot of oxidation change. A 100 yen coin nonetheless. So where are they all??
10 sen 1942/Showa 17, again with the aluminum. This one looks good, but theoretically is a 400 yen coin. I did 'overpay' and paid 500.
So, I will have a happy Dansco.
Cathy
More in the next post....
Now here is one for you ..... I ALMOST bought this one last time, but didn't. And despite the skyrocketing price of gold since then (I was here in 2002-2004) the price wasn't much higher.
There is an UNC version too, but it has been counterfeited, so I stuck with proof. That is the coin I regretted not getting before, so now it is Mine Mine Mine.
The proof version of the 60th year of the Emperor on the throne, actually dated Showa 62. It has
Now, for something a little different. The biggest whim purchase was my first of the day. This jumped out at me and I HAD to have it.
Linkage to the Mint of Findland (yes Findland, what was I thinking????)
see the resemblance
Technically I guess the coin is a Pharoh Hound, but really, I think it's my dog.
Anyway, so then I was tired and I started home. ...
A few views of Tokyo Station. Now, this was a Saturday afternoon, not business time. This was slow and quiet.
Looking at the map of the JR system--this was the non-Kanji one. I'm at about 3 o'clock on the green circle in the middle and need
to get to 6 o'clock back to Shinagawa)
Looking at the signs to direct you to which line you are looking for:
The track and the train platform:
From Shinagawa back to Yokosuka I grabbed a few random shots out the window:
And back home. From the train station to the Starbucks in the department store, and then home...
Oh, and this one:
Had to show off the PCGS pen!
All in all, a great way to spend the day. Found some nice little coins, found a nice gold coin. Have ideas of what to look at more in the future etc.
I hope I can make it next year too--and in the mean time, I will try to find more of the shops on my own too.
Cathy
You may know that the Hanzomon subway line (purple) has a stop right at the Royal Park Hotel/Tokyo City Air Terminal. The station name is Suitengumae. But in order to get there from Tokyo Station, you would have to take the Marunouchi Line (red) and change trains. Or, from Shinagawa, you could have taken the Yamanote Line in the other direction to Shibuya and gotten on the Hanzomon Line directly there, but that would have been going out of your way.
I think there is a tax on precious metals in Japan, hence the high prices.
Years ago, I heard there were many more "foreigners" at the Tokyo convention. But in the last 20 years, relatively few attend. I think NEN started going last year.
In case you did not get a copy, here is the floorplan and dealer list in English.
You got some beauties! The reason for the aluminum coinage during the WWII years was the scarcity of copper. I never knew the old 5 yen coins had no hole!
I can't get all the slobber out of mine, so you owe me a new keyboard Cathy!!
Obscurum per obscurius
I don't believe I've ever seen a rin coin before.
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
I envy you your travel opportunities and your coins-extremely nice!
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
<< <i>Wow - that is by far the best show report I have read since joining this forum! What an excellent show overview and day-in-the-life-of overview of the city. >>
What a cool looking kid, he must have taken from his mom.
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DPOTD 3
<< <i>My official shopping needs were to upgrade some slots on my Dansco type set. >>
You have a Dansco album for Japanese coins, or am I reading that out of context?
are those storks on the gold piece?
quite a few of those have interesting birds
and your coin choice seems to be limited to GEMS
I'll try to answer the questions (but I'm at work and--gasp--I'm supposed to be working
LordM: I do indeed have a Japanese Type set album made by Dansco. I want to say it's from the early 70s. I found it a few years back and I've been plugging away. I don't have a trade dollar for it yet, but I do have the most amazingly chopped 1 yen in that slot. I keep telling myself it functioned as a trade dollar so it counts.
To many: The 1 rin is sweet. It has a couple tiny copper spots on the reverse, but nothing distracting. I have had a hard time finding some of these allegedly common and cheap coins so it was fun to go somewhere I could find many.
Pruebas: You aren't kidding about the transfers--I think I would have been on 4 or 5 different lines to make that trip...my husband figured it out and the cab was MUCH easier.
Sinin1: No, not storks. There are some cranes on different commoratives and I pretend they are storks. The hoo bird or phoenix is also on a couple coins. This one I really want to say are doves though. I'll double check when I get home.
Roy: I'm not buying you a new keyboard
Dimitri: The number 2 son really does look more like his dad. He is such a ham! The non-pictured number 1 son is my mini-me, only he's wearing the same size shoe as me now and is only about 5 inches shorter, so maybe I should call him the not-so-mini-me. In any case I have NO IDEA where the time goes.
This was a lot of fun and I knew I could share here
Cathy
Your photos of the surroundings are terrific and I got a vicarious kick out of your report and coin shots.
Thanks for posting them....
It's just that I got my PCGS grades.
...Mind the gap.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
I had many a business trip to Japan and really like Tokyo. Shinagawa was one of the areas I frequently found myself in when I wasn't going to Kumagaya or Tochigi.