“Vein” approach to dating Rising Sun Orders: a DaNgErOuS pAtH

[JapanX]

Dangerous and misleading mystery – this is the motto of our new thread

I hope that courteous readers remember about this easiest way to dating rising suns.

Actually the easiest way to date a 7th or 8th class Rising Sun is by using the length of the 3rd curling vein in the leaf counting out from the bottom. I have observed a few hundred pieces over the years, including a good few examples in groups or with documents where I am comfortable that they were an original pairing, and the basic rule is that the longer the vein, the older the striking.

On this piece the 3rd vein ends just at the indentation of the leaf, which would lead me to suggest that it is from the Taisho era (Siberian expedition or thereabouts). Russo Japanese War pieces have a longer vein that protrudes below the level of the indentation while China Incident era pieces are shorter and end above it.

What is interesting is that the later post war pieces again have a longer vein but they have no enamel on the reverse of the 7th class and have a different "feel" to the depth of the overall stamping.

[JapanX]

Yep.

For many years this rule circulates among our fellow collectors.

But does this rule really works?

Let’s test it!

But before that allow me to help you out with this tricky approach ;)

[JapanX]

The Rule

The rule is simple. It states that all you need for exact dating of rising suns in two lower classes (some collectors applied this rule to all classes) is 3^rd curling vein in the leaf counting out from the bottom. Here you can see this spot.

[JapanX]

vein

Edited January 9, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

Ok. After finding this sacrament vein all you need to do is to see where it ends (in relation to leaf indentation).

They say there could be three scenarios.

Edited January 9, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

Meiji vein

[JapanX]

Taisho vein

Edited January 9, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

Showa vein

[JapanX]

That’s all folks! You won’t need litmus paper to perform this test – that’s for sure!

Ok. Now it’s time for some performance testing.

[JapanX]

Testing the rule for 8^th class orders

Please take a look at the following two photo galleries.

[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

Looking good?!

Really?!

I am not sure about that.

Hmmm.

Allow me to help you with applying our vein rule.

[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

It doesn’t look well!

The oldest order in this group our rule identified as Taisho/Showa piece.

Big mistake!!!

To say nothing about obvious inability of this rule to discriminate between Taisho and Showa pieces.

But maybe thing will be different in case of 7^th class orders?

Let’s go for it!

[JapanX]

Testing the rule for 7^th class orders

Another set of photo galleries – this time for 7^th class orders.

[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

Well, I think comment is superfluous.

But what’s up with these upper classes and our rule?

From bad to worse.

Allow me to demonstrate.

[JapanX]

Testing the rule for 3^rd class orders

And another set of galleries.

[JapanX]

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[JapanX]

Same depressing picture you’ll get for 6-4 classes.

By the way, it will be interesting to note striking similarity (by enamel color, manufacturing style, etc…) between later after-war specimens. Please take a look at this compilation.