Japanese gold coins - can anyone recognize these kanji?

[GoldCoinLover]

Japan 1868-1869 (Meiji period) Gold Nibu-Kin; Square cast ingot. Other three are also square gold coins. The second kanji almost look like they are swirling, I don't know any kanji that swirl like this.(?)

these are Japanse gold coins. Certainly look strange compared to other 'normal' coins. I wonder if they were used in currency? :?

[Mikawa Ossan]

I could only see one picture. Anyway, I did a quick search and found this article.

二分金
出典: フリー百科事典『ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』

二分金（にぶきん）とは、江戸時代に流通した金貨の一種である。

形状は長方形。 表面には、上部に扇枠に五三の桐紋、中部に「二分」の 文字、 下部に五三の桐紋が刻印されている。 裏面には「光次」の署名と花押が、種類によっては右上 部に鋳造時期を示す年代印が刻印されている。

額面は2分であり、その貨幣価値は1/2両、また8朱に等しい。 一朱金、二朱金、一分金とともに 小判の補助貨幣として用いられた。

文政元年(1818年)に初めて発行され、明治維新後の明治 2年(1869年)まで鋳造された。

ちなみに万延二分金一両分（2枚）＝明治二分金一両分� i2枚）＝（新通貨単位）一円金貨という、貨幣基準で新 貨幣単位「円」が定められたといわれている。

I can translate this for you if you don't read Japanese!

[GoldCoinLover]

I could only see one picture. Anyway, I did a quick search and found this article.

I can translate this for you if you don't read Japanese!


Yes, thank you. I can read some but not much. Does that article say why the second kanji is swirley?

[Mike Cash]

I'm guessing that you haven't had much opportunity to see hand-written kanji yet. The appearance of kanji can vary quite a bit, depending on the individual who wrote it. Also, there are various "styles" of writing which can make them look very different from the standardized forms we're more accustomed to seeing in print and online.

[GoldCoinLover]

I'm guessing that you haven't had much opportunity to see hand-written kanji yet. The appearance of kanji can vary quite a bit, depending on the individual who wrote it. Also, there are various "styles" of writing which can make them look very different from the standardized forms we're more accustomed to seeing in print and online.

Ahh, I see, how confusing. I haven't really seen hand writting kanji much, never had the oppturtunity Thanks

[Mikawa Ossan]

Translation of article as follows (Sorry, it was a "quickie")

Nibukin
Source: Free Encyclopedia Wikpedia

Nibukin is a type of coin which circulated during the Edo period.

Rectangular in shape. On the front face of the coin, the following is inscribed: on the upper part is the insignia of 五三　(Gosan(?)) inside a fan shaped frame, on the central part is written 「二分」, on the lower part is the 五三's insignia.

On the back face is the signature 「光次」 and a flower mark; on some varieties there is a mark on the upper right indicating the mint date.

The face value is 2分("2 bits"); it's currency value is 1/2 ryo , or equivalent to 8朱(su(?)) It was used along with 一朱金　（one su(?)), 二朱金 (2 su(?)), and 一分金 (ichibukin--one "bit") to supplement the koban.

First minted in 1818 (Bunsei 1), it was minted until 1869 (Meiji 2).

Incidentally, it is said that the denomination "yen" comes from the currency standard of: one ryo's worth of Man`en (1860.3-1861.2) Nibukin (2 coins) = one ryo's worth of Meiji Nibukin (2 coins) = (New Currency Denomination) 1 yen coin.

-End of Translation-
Looks like you have one half of one yen on your hands!
Any reading I'm not sure of is indicated by (?). Sorry, I'm not an expert on Japanese currency!

[Mike Cash]

I thought I had posted this earlier in the day, but apparently I failed.

Here's another recycled usenet post:

http://www.sunfield.ne.jp/~mike/images/reading_is_fun.jpg

That's an example of the sort of note my boss sometimes leaves for me
to read when I come to work at 2 or 3 in the morning while he is still
at home giggling to himself.

I think he has lovely handwriting, and I wish I could write Japanese
like that. But it ain't the most legible in the world for a poor
gaijin to be trying to decipher at some ungodly hour of the morning.

[Glenn]

Yeah, I'd be screwed if I had to make sense of that at all. I guess I should get a better look at Japanese people's handwriting; I'm too used to the print stuff.

[Mikawa Ossan]

I had a teacher who wrote just like that on the blackboard when I did my study abroad. What'S worse was that the class of like 100 decided every week that it would be fun to ignore the teacher and just talk all hour.
I don't think I ever paid closer attention to what the teacher was saying than in that class!

[GoldCoinLover]

I thought I had posted this earlier in the day, but apparently I failed.

Here's another recycled usenet post:

http://www.sunfield.ne.jp/~mike/images/reading_is_fun.jpg

That's an example of the sort of note my boss sometimes leaves for me
to read when I come to work at 2 or 3 in the morning while he is still
at home giggling to himself.

I think he has lovely handwriting, and I wish I could write Japanese
like that. But it ain't the most legible in the world for a poor
gaijin to be trying to decipher at some ungodly hour of the morning.

Heh, did your boss actually write that?

[Gaijinian]

What does that say??? :? I can make out:
マイケルさん
予定表（？）ましました
青海C−２より免といり（？？）
３：００〜３：３０e？よりとれる
？パン？？があれば頑張って！！
:souka:

[Mike Cash]

What does that say??? :? I can make out:
マイケルさん
予定表（？）ましました
青海C−２より免といり（？？）
３：００〜３：３０e？よりとれる
？パン？？があれば頑張って！！
:souka:

マイケルさん
予定変更しました
青海C-2より実どり
３：００〜３：３０頃よりとれる
ジャパン構内があれば
頑張って！！

(Yes, GCL, my boss wrote that).

[Gaijinian]

Wow...wow.
I take it you have plenty of practice reading handwriting?
I wish I could...meh.