Gaku-A3 shown
Gaku-A1
Commentary
This has been referenced in one Japanese auction as "small characters" (小字) and identified as rarer than "large characters" (大字). The same listing used Gaku-A7 as an example of "large characters," though I assume that designation applies to most dies. I haven't seen any references that distinguish between the two, and it may be a new designation. At any rate, Japanese collectors seem to have noticed that this die has much smaller calligraphy for "Mitsutsugu" than others. The strokes are also more separate and easier to connect to the original characters.
It's also worth noting that two distinct die states can be found. The earlier state is seen on the left example above; note that the vertical line in the center of the kao has a slight bend to the right at the bottom. The die chip (pictured under Diagnostics) is more prominent, and while I don't have any high quality photos of this die state, the fields seem to be only slightly textured. On the later die state, the same line in the kao is straight at the end, and the original curve can be faintly seen to the right (pictured under Diagnostics). The die chip is less obvious and the fields are more heavily textured on these examples. Strokes 1-3 may also be more distinct on the later strikes, but without more examples of the early state to compare I'm not sure this is a universally noticeable difference.
This is currently the only example I've seen of the earlier die state, and it's paired with Gaku-B1. I believe this may be one of the first Gaku ichibu struck.
Stats
Total Found: 5/32 (16%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B1 (1/5)
- Gaku-B2 (4/5)
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (5/5)
A1 Diagnostics
Gaps between Strokes
Re-Engraving in Kao (on some)
Gaps between Strokes
There are clear gaps between strokes 6 and 9, as well as 11 and 12.
Die Chip on Top Left
Re-Engraving in Kao (on some)
Gaps between Strokes
To the bottom left of stroke 2 is a die chip. This example is the later die state, where this chip is less prominent.
Re-Engraving in Kao (on some)
Re-Engraving in Kao (on some)
Re-Engraving in Kao (on some)
Some examples (left above) were struck with what seems to be the original kao, while others (center and right) show evidence of re-engraving.
Gaku-A2
Commentary
Identifying diagnostics is difficult when there are only two photos to go on, one of which is very low quality. The left example has a lot of unusual texturing in the fields, but the example on the right isn't clear enough to confidently say whether this is present. The die could have been roughly polished after some examples were struck, resulting in different die states as seen on A1. The diagnostics below highlight more obvious differences than for many dies, simply because the finer details are less certain.
Stats
Total Found: 2/32 (6%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B3 (2/2)
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (2/2)
A2 Diagnostics
Curved Strokes 4 and 5
Horizontal Line in Calligraphy
Horizontal Line in Calligraphy
Strokes 4 and 5 have a slight upward curve; they're typically straighter.
Horizontal Line in Calligraphy
Horizontal Line in Calligraphy
Horizontal Line in Calligraphy
There seems to be a rough horizontal line between strokes 7 and 8.
Stroke 12 Positioning
Horizontal Line in Calligraphy
Stroke 12 Positioning
Stroke 12 is slightly closer to the dot border than the kao.
Gaku-A3
Commentary
It's worth pointing out that both of these examples are very weakly struck in portions of the kao. All gold ichibu were hand struck, resulting in many pieces that show weakness in some portion of the coin where the dies weren't entirely even. This is (typically) a result of the strike and not the die.
Stats
Total Found: 2/32 (6%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B3 (2/2)
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (2/2)
A3 Diagnostics
Gap between Stokes 6 and 9
Gap between Stokes 6 and 9
Gap between Stokes 6 and 9
Strokes 6 and 9 are fully separate with a visible gap between them.
Stroke 12 Close to Kao
Gap between Stokes 6 and 9
Gap between Stokes 6 and 9
Stroke 12 is much closer to the kao than to the dot border.
Three Dots in Bottom Right
Gap between Stokes 6 and 9
Three Dots in Bottom Right
In the bottom right corner, below where the kao touches the dot border, there are three full dots (when the bottom border is visible).
Gaku-A4
Commentary
While I haven't studied the kirimon stamp dies closely, it is worth noting that both of these examples used the same kirimon die; looking at the example on the left, there's a crack in the kirimon die running from 2 o'clock to 7 o'clock. A quick look through other examples didn't reveal any others that seem to share this die, though resolution and photo quality is a major limiting factor.
Stats
Total Found: 2/32 (6%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B4 (2/2)
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (2/2)
A4 Diagnostics
Die Chip
Angling of Strokes 4 and 5
Angling of Strokes 4 and 5
There's a small, angular die chip coming off of stroke 4.
Angling of Strokes 4 and 5
Angling of Strokes 4 and 5
Angling of Strokes 4 and 5
Stroke 4 and 5 are angled more sharply down than on most dies, and stroke 4 has a slight downward turn at the left end.
Large Opening on Kao
Angling of Strokes 4 and 5
Large Opening on Kao
The backwards-C-shaped opening on the left of the kao is very large and doesn't merge with the dot border.
Gaku-A5
Commentary
As seen for A2, diagnostics are a bit more difficult to pull when only two examples have been found, one of which is very low resolution. In addition, the example on the left has the faintest kirimon stamp I've seen. Most examples seem to have had the kirimon struck over the finished coin, while it was clearly struck first on this piece. The example on the right has the kirimon stamp on side B and is too low resolution to draw any further conclusions about.
Stats
Total Found: 2/32 (6%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B5 (2/2)
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (1/2)
- Side B (1/2)
A5 Diagnostics
Short Stroke 8
Hooked Lines in Kao
Short Stroke 8
The right end of stroke 8 doesn't come anywhere close to stroke 6.
Long Stroke 12
Hooked Lines in Kao
Short Stroke 8
Stroke 12 is very long, and the space between the bottom edge of it and the kao forms a triangle.
Hooked Lines in Kao
Hooked Lines in Kao
Hooked Lines in Kao
The top left line in the kao is typically curved, but this die has a hook on the end.
Gaku-A6
Commentary
Based on the example shown on the right, this die seems to have developed a break to the right of stroke 10, as well as a smaller die crack to the left of stroke 4. None of the other examples I've seen have either of these present, and I believe they may represent a late die state.
Stats
Total Found: 4/32 (12%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B6 (4/4)
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (4/4)
A6 Diagnostics
Die Chip in Mitsutsugu
Vertical Lines in Fields
Vertical Lines in Fields
There's a small die chip between stroke 7 and 8. This area is often obscured by the kirimon stamp, and the chip is not always visible in photos based on condition and lighting.
Vertical Lines in Fields
Vertical Lines in Fields
Vertical Lines in Fields
The fields on this die are textured, showing faint vertical lines in multiple places. To the left of stroke 8 is one of the most consistently visible.
Merged Dots at Bottom
Vertical Lines in Fields
Merged Dots at Bottom
In the bottom border below the kao, two dots slightly to the left of the center are merged together.
Gaku-A7
Commentary
This die is, quite frankly, a mess. There are die breaks all over the place, plus very distinct texturing in the fields, particularly the top left corner. The dots in the border are larger than normal as well. It's possible that an earlier die state exists without many of the diagnostics below, but I haven't been able to find an example.
You may notice an extra dot in the bottom lefthand corner between two strokes of the kao; this is also present on some examples of Gaku-A8 (though not any of the three pictured), and I don't recommend relying on it for attribution.
Stats
Total Found: 4/32 (12%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B7 (4/4)
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (2/4)
- Side B (2/4)
A7 Diagnostics
Grid in Top Left Field
Die Break on Right Border
Grid in Top Left Field
While vertical polish lines are fairly common in this area, horizontal lines are unusual, making this grid very distinctive.
Stroke 7 Fully Below 5
Die Break on Right Border
Grid in Top Left Field
Stroke 7 is typically close to the left end of stroke 5, but on this die it's fully below stroke 5, nowhere near the left end.
Die Break on Right Border
Die Break on Right Border
Die Break on Right Border
There's a large die break on the right border across from where strokes 10 and 12 meet.
Gaku-A8
Commentary
With eleven examples found, this is by far the most common A die. The second most common is A1 with just five examples. While a larger sample could always change these proportions, the gap is so large that I'm fairly comfortable identifying this as most common.
In addition to these eleven examples, this die has also been found paired with a Keicho B die, which is discussed at length here. The Keicho pairing implies that it was likely among the last Gaku dies used, hence its place at the end of the list.
Stats
Total Found: 11/32 (34%)
Paired with:
- Gaku-B7 (1/11)
- Gaku-B8 (10/11)
- Also found with Keicho B die
Kirimon stamp on:
- Side A (8/11)
- Side B (3/11)
A8 Diagnostics
C-Shaped Stroke 2
Kao Opening Border Interaction
Low Horizontal Line in Kao
The most distinctive feature of this die is that stroke 2 is shaped like a C, with much more of a curve than on most dies.
Low Horizontal Line in Kao
Kao Opening Border Interaction
Low Horizontal Line in Kao
The straight horizontal line in the kao is very close to the bottom curve.
Kao Opening Border Interaction
Kao Opening Border Interaction
Kao Opening Border Interaction
The kao opening runs into the left border, fully obscuring the bottom dot. There are two dots in the middle, and the upper arm fades into the top dot.