Japan, Musashi Province, Edo, Fukagawa, 1769 - 1788, Meiwa-sen, Shin Kanei Tsuho, Nami 11 Waves JA115643. Brass 4 mon, New Kanei; Meiwa-sen (brassy alloy); Hartill EJC 4.253, Ogawa 332, Jacobs-Vermeule K602, Jones Kanei 200-10, VF, 5.030g, 27.9mm, 0o, Musashi Province, Edo, Sendashinden Fukagawa mint, kan ei tsu ho, head of ei and tsu radical slant down on the left; reverse 11 waves The very first four mon coins, issued in 1768, had 21 waves on the reverse. Later four mon coins, all with 11 waves on the reverse, can be dated by the type and color of the metal. Meiwa-sen, brassy alloy (68% copper, 24% zinc, and 8% tin), was used for the first 11 wave issue, 1769 - 1788. Bunsei-sen, reddish alloy (75% copper, 15% zinc, and 10% lead), was used for the second issue, 1821 - 1825. Ansei-sen, dark alloy (65% copper, 15% zinc, and 20% lead), was used for the third issue, 1857 - 1859. After 1866, all four mon coins were cast in iron. |