The Rectangle Coins
The Rectangle Coins
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  • ID Guide
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    • Gold Obverse Design
    • Gaku Ichibu (Video)
    • Attributing Keicho Ichibu
    • Shotoku Ichibu
    • Attributing Man'en Nibu
    • The Coin Show 2021
    • Silver Overview (Video)
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    • Home
    • The Basics
    • Gold Set
    • Silver Set
    • ID Guide
    • Research Notes
      • Help!
      • References
      • Gold Obverse Design
      • Gaku Ichibu (Video)
      • Attributing Keicho Ichibu
      • Shotoku Ichibu
      • Attributing Man'en Nibu
      • The Coin Show 2021
      • Silver Overview (Video)
    • Contact Me
  • Home
  • The Basics
  • Gold Set
  • Silver Set
  • ID Guide
  • Research Notes
    • Help!
    • References
    • Gold Obverse Design
    • Gaku Ichibu (Video)
    • Attributing Keicho Ichibu
    • Shotoku Ichibu
    • Attributing Man'en Nibu
    • The Coin Show 2021
    • Silver Overview (Video)
  • Contact Me

Gold ID Guide

Gold: How many kirimon (flowers) are there?

None

Gaku Ichibu

One

Two

One Kirimon: What shape is the coin?

Square

Bunsei Isshu

Rectangle

Rectangle: How much does it weigh?

Roughly 1.62 g

Tenpo Nisshu

Roughly 0.75 g

Man'en Nisshu

Two Kirimon: Does it have the character 一 or 二?

On the same side as the kirimon, look at the right edge, in the center. You'll see one of these two characters between the kirimon.

一, character for one

二, character for two

一: Are there any characters in the top obverse corners?

No extra characters

One extra character (top right)

Two extra characters

 Double Hon (両本) Keicho Ichibu 

No Characters: How large is it?

Roughly 11 x 6 mm, 0.82 g

Man'en Ichibu

Roughly 16 x 10 mm, 4.43 g

There are four types this could be, and they're all extremely difficult to tell apart. Please see Shotoku Ichibu in research notes for a thorough analysis of all four potential types.

One Character: Which character is it?

本 in grass script, commonly mushy

 Single Hon (片本) Keicho Ichibu 

元, usually mushy

Genroku Ichibu

乾, usually mushy

Hoei Ichibu

佐

Sado Ichibu

文, usually mushy

Genbun Ichibu

文 in grass script

Bunsei Ichibu

保

Tenpo Ichibu

正

Ansei Ichibu

二: Are there any characters in the top obverse corners?

No extra characters

Yes, one extra character (top right)

No: Does the 分 slope up?

Look at the top right stroke of the 分 character. The bottom of the stroke may bend slightly up, or be straight/bend down.

Yes, it slopes up

No, it's straight or slopes down

Meiji Nibu

Slopes up: Is there a V at the bottom of the top kirimon?

Look where the kirimon meets the semi-circular border. Some have a small V connecting the two; others just have a space. If you're having trouble seeing it, there are more pictures on Attributing Man'en Nibu.

No V

V

Man'en Meiji-Style Nibu

No V: How large is it?

Roughly 20 x 12 mm, 5.62 g

Ansei Nibu

Roughly 16 x 11 mm, 3 g

Man'en Ansei-Style Nibu

Yes: Which character is it?

文 in normal script

Early (Shinbun) Bunsei Nibu

文 in grass script

Late (Sobun) Bunsei Nibu

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The Rectangle Coins

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