Coin Community Family of Web Sites
300,000 items to help build your collection! Royal Canadian Mint products, Canadian, Polish, American, and world coins and banknotes. Specializing in Modern Numismatics Vancouvers #1 Coin and Paper Money Dealer Ken's Numismatic eBay Store US and World Coins, Bullion, and Exonumia. Coin, Banknote and Medal Collectors's Online Mall
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel! Check out our Pinterest!
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?


This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.
Welcome Guest! Need help? Got a question? Inherit some coins?
Our coin forum is completely free! Register Now!

Japan One Yen 1889 (Meiji Year 22) - Authentic? Have No Experience With These

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
Author Previous TopicReplies: 13 / Views: 1,589Next Topic  
New Member

Canada
21 Posts
 Posted 08/31/2023  6:31 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add archerg to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers





This example came from a small job lot of coins in an English auction. When one takes a flyer on these, it is always a gamble; consignments are frequently salted with dubious material. But, this one checks a few boxes (38.1 mm diameter, 27.0 gram weight) and the strike is quality enough that I think this might be genuine.

The coin really takes life in person, makes you pause and admire... I have added an image showing it in incident light.

Also, does anyone else see a counterstrike on the chrysanthemum?

I'm aware the issue is a favourite of coin fakers so I'd be grateful for an expert eye or two to share their thoughts on this one. Thank you in advance.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1805 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  12:14 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Albert to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
These can look so good maybe nobody could really tell by the pictures.
I have several, and the best way I can tell mine are bad is because mine are not silver.
Yours sort of hints to me as being not genuine- but maybe hard to say.
I do have one that is easy to spot when magnified, but two others not so much by eye alone.
Pillar of the Community
Singapore
631 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  01:06 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Numister to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I agree with Albert, some parts look right, while others are suspect.
Hard to ascertain from pictures alone.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1805 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  10:24 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Albert to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
The denticles appear questionable.
New Member
Canada
21 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  11:49 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add archerg to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for your replies. The denticles, in person, look more blocky and uniform. Perhaps the combination of toning and an angled light source causes distortion. I doubt I can capture the perfect image.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1805 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  2:22 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Albert to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
The crenulated rim is a common place for flaws & flubs among fakers.
If the denticles do not really look like as pictured, then photos can be misleading.
I like it best when I have the coin(s) in my hands (shop) so I can tell the owner what it really is or is not.
Edited by Albert
09/01/2023 9:17 pm
New Member
Canada
21 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  6:11 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add archerg to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Again thanks. I agree there's no substitute for having the item in hand to examine.
Pillar of the Community
collector.detector's Avatar
United States
504 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  6:27 pm  Show Profile   Check collector.detector's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add collector.detector to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Foe what it's worth - It looks real to me based on the photos.
Pillar of the Community
Allcoinage's Avatar
Australia
1150 Posts
 Posted 09/01/2023  7:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Allcoinage to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
From pictures looks can be deceiving, a little toning but it looks real to me,maybe someone else could give better knowledge to this coin.
New Member
Japan
33 Posts
 Posted 09/12/2023  12:41 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Dnas to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Looks Ok to me.
The denticles look different to other places on these coins when the toning is variable. It's easier to see the denticle shape if the magnification is higher.

I have a couple of this year, Meiji M22 and it looks the similar. This year has the "4 spines" over the flame version, which are only seen on M20 - M25 and on Taisho T3.
I have a few dozen of these 1 yen coins.
New Member
Canada
21 Posts
 Posted 09/13/2023  06:21 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add archerg to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks to all for your replies and further information, I learned a few things and got a nice coin to keep. Glad I posted.
Pillar of the Community
cpfull's Avatar
United States
603 Posts
 Posted 09/13/2023  6:15 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cpfull to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I know nothing of these, but reading the replies from Albert, a genuine example is silver, so you could try the tissue test.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1805 Posts
 Posted 09/13/2023  6:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Albert to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Silver reflects white, but after it has toned or tarnished, I doubt the tissue test works.
Maybe somebody knows?
I'd use a suspended N-52 magnet set as step one over most other home tests for silver.
Valued Member
United States
136 Posts
 Posted 11/30/2023  12:11 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add manosgerms to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I have a different view on this.
I believe it is genuine and the reason that there is some questionable detailing is that this has been repaired.
This is a completely common variety in this condition because it won't grade out at all due to the chop mark (the only official counterstrikes are the 1897 tokyo and osaka mint counterstrikes) and also due to what I believe to be engraving and repair added to remove other chop marks (hence why others are spotting deviations from the regular pattern)
This would grade out at XF details and that would make it worth say 30 bucks so not much more than the silver content.
If this is a fake (and as others said it could still be because I don't have it in hand to examine) then it is pretty much the best I have ever seen for this date and for most dates actually.
A fake of this quality would only usually be used for one of the rarest dates and if not for and 1875 or 74 at least an 1880 or something. For an 1889 it just won't be worth faking this well.
There is one last possibility - that this is a contemporary forgery of the time. However these are actually supremely rare and for an 1889 are worth far more than the genuine pieces. I don't believe this to be the case either but it is a possibility.
I would be very concerned if fakers are able to make fakes this good for a couple of bucks and for the moment I don't think so given that the weight is fine and the thickness looks okay which again implies it is probably silver and no one would fake this issue with a chopmark at this grade with real silver.
  Previous TopicReplies: 13 / Views: 1,589Next Topic  

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.



    




Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2025 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us  |  Advertise Here  |  Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum © 2005 - 2025 Coin Community Forums
It took 0.31 seconds to rattle this change. Forums