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Japanese antique coin news and articles collected from around the world (136 articles)
Hōei Chōgin: How to Identify It and Its Value — Rapid Decline in Silver Fineness from 50% to 20%
The Hōei Chōgin (宝永丁銀) is a weighted silver currency minted by the shogunate between 1706 and 1711. As a response to the fiscal crisis caused by the Genroku Kantō Earthquake and the Hōei Earthquake combined with the eruption of Mt. Fuji, the silver fineness was progressively reduced in stages. Fineness fell from 50% to 20%, and the coins are identified by four types of stamps. Surface color and the clarity of the stamps strongly influence valuation, and authentication of the Hōei Chōgin ranks among the most difficult within the chōgin family.
Value and Authentication of Kyōhō Chōgin | A Silver Coin with Restored 80% Fineness
The Kyōhō Chōgin (享保丁銀) is a currency-by-weight silver coin minted from 1716 to 1736. As part of the Kyōhō Reforms under Tokugawa Yoshimune, it restored silver fineness to 80%, representing a critical monetary policy measure. This was an improvement of 16 percentage points over the preceding Genroku Chōgin's 64% fineness, making it the largest fineness recovery in the history of Edo-period silver coinage. Careful scrutiny of the inscription stamps, observation of age-related changes, and specific gravity measurement are the key points for authentication.
Kyōwa Isshu-gin: Value and Authentication Guide — The Highest-Purity Silver Coin of the Late Edo Period
The Kyōwa Isshu-gin (享和一朱銀) is a small-denomination silver coin minted by the Edo shogunate in 1802, boasting a silver fineness of approximately 98.7% — the highest standard of the Edo period. Rectangular in shape and measuring approximately 10 mm tall by 5 mm wide, weighing 0.86 g, it bears the inscription「一朱」on the obverse and the Ginza authentication stamp on the reverse. The stark difference in quality compared to the later Kaei Isshu-gin (fineness approximately 26.4%) heavily influences market value, and specimens trade across a price range of roughly ¥3,000 to over ¥30,000 depending on condition.
Kaeie Ōban Value and Identification Guide: An Introduction to the Last Ōban of the Bakumatsu Era
The Kaei Ōban (嘉永大判) is a large gold coin minted by the Edo Shogunate between 1848 and 1854, a product of the turbulent Bakumatsu period that coincided with Commodore Perry's arrival. Surviving examples are estimated at only dozens of pieces, making the authenticity of the ink inscriptions the single most critical point in authentication. With bullion value alone exceeding ¥1,200,000, this ultra-rare coin trades on the market for tens of millions of yen.
Basic Knowledge for Identifying the Value of Kanei Tsūhō (寛永通宝) — Methods for Judging Script Style, Reverse Characters, and Mother Coins
Kanei Tsūhō (寛永通宝) was Japan's primary currency in circulation for approximately 230 years from 1636. Differences in the manufacturing systems of Ko-Kan'ei (古寛永) and Shin-Kan'ei (新寛永), the price gap between mother coins and circulating coins (which can exceed 100 times), how to read the reverse characters that indicate the mint, and authenticity assessment through script style all influence value judgments when collecting. Verifying condition and selecting reliable sources of acquisition are also important.
Tenpō Koban: Market Prices, Value, and Authentication Guide — An Introduction to Late Edo Period Gold Coins
The Tenpō Koban (天保小判) is a gold coin minted by the Edo shogunate from 1837 to 1858, with a gold fineness of 56.8% and a weight of 11.2 g. It was the product of a recoinage driven by the shogunate's deteriorating finances, and was made smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the Bunsei Koban. Authentication is relatively straightforward in the marketplace, with weight measurement and inspection of the mintmark and file marks serving as the basic checks. Price differences based on condition are significant, and high-grade specimens are traded on the international market as well.
The Value and Authentication of National Bank Notes — Factors Determining the Rarity of Old and New Issues
National bank notes issued by 153 private banks across Japan between the 6th and 12th years of the Meiji era (1873–1879) are extremely rare historical banknotes, owing to the short life of the convertibility system and regional economic disparities. While old-issue notes command high prices due to their brief issuance period and early disposal, new-issue notes show a pronounced divergence in value depending on the issuing bank. Authentication and systematic collection organized by bank are of paramount importance.
Tenshō Ōban Gold Coin: Value and Authentication — Rarity and Forgery Detection of Japan's First Ōban
The Tenshō Ōban Gold Coin (天正大判金) is Japan's first ōban gold coin, cast in 1588 by Gotō Tokujo on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. With standardized specifications of approximately 165 g in weight and approximately 73% gold fineness, it functioned as a political instrument symbolizing Hideyoshi's power. Only around 100 examples survive today, making it extraordinarily rare, with market appearances occurring roughly once every several years. Authentication requires the combination of calligraphic examination of the Gotō family's ink inscriptions with multiple specialist methods.
The Value and Market Price of 5-Yen Gold Coins — How the Difference Between Old and New Types Determines Price
The 5-yen gold coin was issued by the Meiji government when it introduced the gold standard. The old type (Meiji 4–30) has a weight of 8.33 g and a pure gold content of 7.5 g; the new type (from Meiji 30 onward) has a weight of 4.1666 g and a pure gold content of approximately 3.75 g as prescribed by Article 6 of the Coinage Act, while both share a fineness of 900/1000. The old type is characterized by a dragon design and the new type by a chrysanthemum crest; rare dates command high prices.
The Value and Market Price of the Old 1-Yen Gold Coin — Mintage Figures, Condition, and How to Distinguish Grades
The Old 1-Yen Gold Coin (旧1円金貨) was Japan's first modern gold coin, issued from Meiji 4 (1871) to Meiji 13 (1880). It was designed to conform to the international gold standard, with a weight of 1.67 g and a gold fineness of 900/1000. Current market prices are predominantly in the ¥500,000–¥1,500,000 range, with examples of rare date coins exceeding ¥2,000,000 on record. Mintage figures, condition, and grades assigned by PCGS and NGC are the principal factors that significantly influence price.
Value and Market Price of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics Commemorative Silver Coins — Price Differences Determined by Grade and Condition
The Tokyo Olympics commemorative silver coins, issued in 1964 as Japan's first commemorative coinage, come in two denominations: the ¥1,000 silver coin and the ¥100 silver coin. Market prices vary significantly depending on metal fineness, mintage, and condition, ranging from ¥5,000 to over ¥30,000 for uncirculated examples. Proper storage and verification of authenticity are indispensable for maintaining value.
Giza-jū Value and Market Prices: Shōwa 26 Issues Reach Tens of Thousands of Yen — How to Identify and Store These Introductory Antique Coins
The value of Giza-jū (10-yen coins with reeded edges minted from Shōwa 26 to 33) varies greatly depending on the year of issue and condition. High-grade uncirculated examples of the Shōwa 26 issue trade for ¥30,000 to ¥100,000 or more, while circulated specimens fetch only dozens to several hundred yen. The reeded edge was discontinued after the Shōwa 33 issue, and this limited production window is the source of their scarcity.
How to Identify and Value Tetsusen (Iron Coins): From Types of Rust to Preservation Methods
Tetsusen (iron coins), cast from around 1739 in response to a copper shortage in the mid-Edo period, are evaluated by standards entirely different from those applied to copper coins. Key factors include identifying the material with a magnet, distinguishing red rust from black rust, and pinpointing the mint location from characters on the reverse. Market prices, which directly reflect condition, range widely from a few hundred yen to tens of thousands of yen, and maintaining a proper storage environment is the key to preserving value.
Hōei Mittsu-Tama Chōgin's 32% Silver Fineness and How to Identify It — Fundamentals of Edo Silver Coin Authentication
The Hōei Mittsu-Tama Chōgin (宝永三ツ宝丁銀) is a weight-based silver coin minted in 1710, distinguished above all by its 32% silver fineness. Because its fineness differs from that of other chōgin minted during the same Hōei period, confirming the stamp impressions (極印) is an essential condition for identifying the coin type. Authentication carries considerable risk, and differences in preservation condition and reverse characters indicating the minting location both influence value.
The Value and How to Identify Bunkyū Eiho — How Wave Patterns and Script Styles Determine Market Price
Bunkyū Eiho (文久永宝) is a copper coin cast by the Edo shogunate in 1863 and is Japan's last holed coin, distinguished by the wave-shaped outer rim. Two varieties exist — standard script (真書体) and cursive script (草書体) — and the number and depth of waves as well as differences in script style determine rarity. Material and condition also heavily influence price. Individual prices and auction results are listed only once verifiably matched records — with sale, lot, source URL and review date — exist.
Value and Market Price of the Taishō Small-Type 50-Sen Silver Coin: How to Identify Rarity by Year
The Taishō Small-Type 50-Sen Silver Coin is a modern silver coin that appeared in 1922 with silver fineness reduced to 720/1000. Value is determined by the combination of date rarity and state of preservation. Individual prices and auction results are listed only once verifiably matched records — with sale, lot, source URL and review date — exist.
How to Identify Tenpō Tsūhō and Market Prices: The Difference in Value Between Honza Coins and Mitsuchū Coins
Tenpō Tsūhō (天保通宝) is a large hyaku-mon coin minted in 1835, characterized by its oval shape measuring approximately 49 mm vertically and 33 mm horizontally. Two lineages exist: Honza coins officially authorized by the shogunate, and Mitsuchū coins secretly cast by various domains. Value varies greatly depending on place of origin and calligraphic style. Honza coins trade at roughly ¥5,000–¥15,000, while rare Mitsuchū coins fetch anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen. Authenticity can be assessed through weight measurement and observation of the coin's textual features.
History, Value, and Authentication of the Man'en Koban
The Man'en Koban (万延小判) is a small gold coin minted in 1860 in response to the crisis of gold outflow at the end of the Edo period. It commands high collector value due to its rarity and historical significance, making authentication critically important. The 'Sei' (正) stamp on the reverse, weight, and sharpness of the engravings are the keys to authentication. Purchasing from reliable dealers is strongly recommended.
The Value and Authentication of Trade Coins: Understanding Japan's Historical Currency
Trade coins were specially minted as instruments of settlement for international trade and have played an important role in Japan's economic history. This article details the historical background of trade coins from the Edo period through the Meiji period, their valuation in the market, methods for avoiding the risk of counterfeits, and key points to keep in mind when collecting them.
Five Factors That Determine the Value of Old Coins: Essential Knowledge for Understanding the Market
The value of old coins is determined by five interrelated factors: rarity, condition, provenance, material, and market supply and demand. Keichō Ōban (慶長大判), which survive in very small numbers, can trade in the hundreds of millions of yen range, while mother coins (bōsen) of Kan'ei Tsūhō (寛永通宝) are valued more highly than their daughter coins (kosen). Hammer prices for Tempō Tsūhō (天保通宝) vary greatly depending on condition, and pieces with a documented daimyō-family provenance can command a premium over equivalent pieces of unknown history. Gold purity and script varieties are also important elements that affect value.