Japanese one yen coins and hairlines

[michael_s-migration]

How frequently are hairlines observed on the "one yen" side of Meiji-era one yen silver coins? I have 3 NGC-graded silver yen, ranging from MS62 to MS64, and they all have some hairlines in the wide field surrounding the kanji for "one yen." Granted the 64 has fewer hairlines than the 62, but I'm surprised they weren't rejected for cleaning/wiping. (BTW I didn't submit them myself.) Or did something else cause these hairlines?

 

I doubt they are die polish lines, since they're oriented in many different directions.

 

Also, I recently purchased a raw one yen coin from a fairly prominent dealer, advertised as about uncirculated, which also has these hairlines. Are these hairlines considered acceptable among collectors of Japanese yen?

[satootoko]

to the forum Mike.

 

I would estimate that fully half of my Meiji/Taisho yen have noticeable hairlines, almost certainly from cleaning in most instances, if not all.

 

Traditionally in Japan coins were regularly cleaned, and the chances of finding any Meiji or Taisho coinage that has never been cleaned are pretty small. Like it or not, we have to accept historical fact.

[michael_s-migration]

Hi Roy,

 

Thanks for the warm welcome

 

I'm glad I now know that hairlines are quite common on silver yen. I was concerned that hairlined yen would be treated very negatively, like hairlined business-strike Morgans.