As I said on the home page, this site is a work in progress. I am still researching, and sometimes the best reference is another person instead of a book on a shelf. In the hopes that someone out there has an answer or two, here are a few of the questions that continue to baffle me. If you have any insights, just go to the Contact Me tab up top and send me a message.
According to one Japanese book from 1999 and one Japanese dealer, we don't know what the significance of the number of marks is. I'm not yet convinced and am currently tracking down new sources in hopes they'll shed some light on things.
This is a quote from a 1700s Japanese document, reprinted in a newer book with no image of the original. I have a decent understanding, but a better translation would be helpful. It's discussing repaired Keicho koban (which, to my knowledge, don't exist with the 本 character as described here).
新直し小判裏ニ六角之内ニ本ノ字之極印御座候。是を諸人見知り,右の新直シ小判より外諸方取りやり不仕候。
Likely alternative with more modern characters: 新直し小判裏に六角の内に本の字の極印御座です。これを諸人見知り,右の新直し小判より外諸方取りやり不仕です。
[Note: I believe 右 is used to mean "as mentioned previously" (前述の通り)]
I've scoured my sources for information about the Gaku ichibu, and while I've learned a lot and answered most of my questions, I haven't found anything at all to suggest a mintage number. Is there any record?
The Rectangle Coins
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