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View Full Version : So I've got this random Japanese coin...



klange
July 5th, 2008, 11:17 PM
No idea where it came from, and no idea what it says, just know it's Japanese and Google is getting me no where, so maybe my wonderful friends here at the Ubuntu Forums could help me out.
Through the use of gnome-character-map I was able to get the actual text on the coin. I'm not entirely sure about the first letter on the second line, but here's what it says:

パーラー
ぷらは

The coin itself is silver in color, with a slight bit of yellow. It has 16 stars around the outer ring, and the edges are smooth. Both sides depict the same text shown above (as well as the stars).

Again, I have no idea where I got this, and when it did come to be in my possession I didn't even know it was Japanese. It was just now that I recognized the characters as katakana and hiragana. Google is leading me nowhere in my quest for answers, except to tell me that the first line is "parlor" and the second line is "Prague", which really doesn't make any sense to me.


Can anyone help me with satisfy my curiosity?

e: Pic
http://random.ogunderground.com/coin.png

Mazza558
July 5th, 2008, 11:30 PM
If the writing's round the edge, it's probably just details like when it was made and where. What do you want to find out about it specifically?

klange
July 5th, 2008, 11:34 PM
If the writing's round the edge, it's probably just details like when it was made and where. What do you want to find out about it specifically?
The writing is in the middle. I'll get a scan/picture of it in a bit.
I just want to know what it is/where it came from/what the significance of it is.

Mazza558
July 5th, 2008, 11:43 PM
That doesn't look monetary at all.

I'm by no means an expert on this sort of thing, but it looks more like a token than currency. Then again, I know nothing about eastern currency.

Lostincyberspace
July 5th, 2008, 11:45 PM
How about the other side? for an image please.

Superkoop
July 5th, 2008, 11:49 PM
Maybe an arcade token? At least that's what it looks like, and if parlor is correct, it would make sense.

klange
July 5th, 2008, 11:52 PM
Maybe an arcade token? At least that's what it looks like, and if parlor is correct, it would make sense.

That's what I was thinking. Doesn't quite explain why I have it, lol. I'm still searching Google to see if I can find it.


How about the other side? for an image please.
Same on both sides.

Mazza558
July 5th, 2008, 11:54 PM
Is it weighty or does it feel cheap?

klange
July 5th, 2008, 11:58 PM
Is it weighty or does it feel cheap?
It doesn't feel "cheap". Feels like it ways about as much as a nickel, but it's the size of a quarter (however, it's thinner, so...).

bugzor
July 6th, 2008, 12:09 AM
looks like pachinko token.

klange
July 6th, 2008, 12:13 AM
looks like pachinko token.
It's definitely the most logical possibility. Now the question is "where did it come from?" Japanese slot machines in a casino in Prague? Hm...

bugzor
July 6th, 2008, 12:17 AM
It's definitely the most logical possibility. Now the question is "where did it come from?" Japanese slot machines in a casino in Prague? Hm...

or in arcade, since pachinkos arent officially for gambling.

Lostincyberspace
July 6th, 2008, 12:22 AM
Or a chezk themed pachinko parlor?

cubeist
July 6th, 2008, 12:23 AM
That's not Yen, not that I have ever seen anyway. So it has no direct currency value, but it may be a token coin or something really old...

HansKisaragi
July 6th, 2008, 12:42 AM
Humm, interesting

reyfer
July 6th, 2008, 01:03 AM
It is a token, pachinko, the writing says on the upper part "parlor, and below it says "PURAHA", maybe from PRAHA entertainment? http://www.p-world.co.jp/kanagawa/praha-yokosuka.htm

klange
July 6th, 2008, 01:12 AM
It is a token, pachinko, the writing says on the upper part "parlor, and below it says "PURAHA", maybe from PRAHA entertainment? http://www.p-world.co.jp/kanagawa/praha-yokosuka.htm

Sound like it. Thanks for all the help guys! Now to find out where/who it came from...

LaRoza
July 6th, 2008, 06:06 AM
Sound like it. Thanks for all the help guys! Now to find out where/who it came from...

Now that you know it is worthless, try to pawn it off for big bucks...