How Would One Start To Grade This Japanese Coin

OK, since no one has hazarded an opinion I will put my 2 cents in. Obviously this is a real challange, but I think the first step would be to see if you can find other examples to compare with, this will give you some sort of objective view of wear (if any). A second step would be to research the minting process of the era to determine what quality can be expected. If you can't find an exact counterpart, use the lingo on the coin (after translation) to find similar but different coins of the era and make direct comparison to them, then look for the normal dings, scratches, abrasions,etc that you would on a modern coin...trying to distinqush what may have occured in the minting and what is ancillary damage..then rely on the SWAG method (Scientific Wild --- Guess). It is very hard to judge from photos only as possible edge damage is totaly concealed, etc; but I would venture a guess at XF to AU depending on the results of the previous efforts. (It looks like it has been on a belt sander from the marks on the flats, but I suspect that occured in the minting process..hence the need to research that as mentioned above). Just my humble opinion....which is worth....ummmmmm, not much. basicbob

Welcome Bob, Thanx for the info just trying to find another one to grade against is the tough one....

It's rather common in Japan and I will be hard pressed to buy it any more than 10 dollars even in XF. There are much scarcer varities of this but I am well not into this type.