Japan A Curious Case of Sacred Treasures with Engraved mint mark M

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We all know that usually pieces marked with mark M got it by the way of punching.

Check out this 6th class ;)

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No let`s examine another piece that is marked with

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Now let`s compare them.

Back-to-back

Boxes (box for M piece is on the left)

Practically identical (same height, length, gear...)

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Rosettes (rosette for M piece is on the left)

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But the orders themselves are practically identical...

Only red enamel is slightly different on obverse

The M piece is on the left

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Closer

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Reverses

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Inscriptions close up (interesting, that it is usually believed (and quite correctly) that the thinner the inscription - the older the piece. Here M marked piece have thinner inscription than t marked piece!!!)

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Together (please note the hooks on the ribbons - t piece have earlie type than M piece)

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So we have two pieces with mixed characteristics.

Practically identical boxes.

M piece have later rosette (as expected) than t piece.

M piece have more rich red "eyes" (as expected) than t piece (the later have more carrot-like enamel shade - as expected).

M piece have later type of hook on the ribbon (as expected) than t piece.

M piece have earlier style of reverse inscription (quite unexpectedly!!!) than t piece.

All others characteristics are practically identical...

And of course not punched, but engraved M

Hopefully this liitle case study clearly shows how difficult is to date sacred treasures only by the shape of cental mirror.

Here comes another 6th class with engraved M mark with exactly the same characteristics.

To consolidate our results ;)

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