I tried a new public area with trails in western Tokyo Prefecture a couple of days ago and found more old coins than ever before. I ended up with 20 coins including a 1965 ¥100 but I counted it because it is 60% Silver.
Some of the coins are old and interesting such as the Ten Sei Gen Ho. The original is Chinese coin called the Tian Sheng Yuan Bao made from 1023 to 1031. It was imported and used in Japan. It was also made here. David Hartill's book list as a Kyushu coin from between a 1580 and 1620 but this one seems to be very poor quality and roughly made. The color is also distinctively lighter than the other coins and the signal and tone on the AT Pro was in the low 40's so I expected foil so I think it may just be bita-sen (low quality coins made in Japan and copied from previosly imported Chinese coins). The next oldest coin was a Sei So Gen Ho with seal script. It is a well made coin and looks old so I think it is an original Sheng Song Yuan Bao from between 1101 and 1106. Next coin is a Sentoku Tsuho or Hsuan Te Tung Pao from 1426-1435.
I also found 3 old kanei tsuho from 1636-1668 and 4 shin kanei tsuho including 2 with mint marks - Sa (1714 or 1736 I think) and Ashi (1741-45), two 4 Mon Kanei Tsuho from 1769 or later, 2 Bunkyu Eiho from 1863-68, 2 1 sen from 1921 and 1936, 2 aluminum wartime 1 sen from 1939 and one 1942 and a 60% silver ¥100 from 1965.
Some of the coins are old and interesting such as the Ten Sei Gen Ho. The original is Chinese coin called the Tian Sheng Yuan Bao made from 1023 to 1031. It was imported and used in Japan. It was also made here. David Hartill's book list as a Kyushu coin from between a 1580 and 1620 but this one seems to be very poor quality and roughly made. The color is also distinctively lighter than the other coins and the signal and tone on the AT Pro was in the low 40's so I expected foil so I think it may just be bita-sen (low quality coins made in Japan and copied from previosly imported Chinese coins). The next oldest coin was a Sei So Gen Ho with seal script. It is a well made coin and looks old so I think it is an original Sheng Song Yuan Bao from between 1101 and 1106. Next coin is a Sentoku Tsuho or Hsuan Te Tung Pao from 1426-1435.
I also found 3 old kanei tsuho from 1636-1668 and 4 shin kanei tsuho including 2 with mint marks - Sa (1714 or 1736 I think) and Ashi (1741-45), two 4 Mon Kanei Tsuho from 1769 or later, 2 Bunkyu Eiho from 1863-68, 2 1 sen from 1921 and 1936, 2 aluminum wartime 1 sen from 1939 and one 1942 and a 60% silver ¥100 from 1965.
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