Where can i purchase older Japanese currency?
July 26, 2010 4:31 PM   Subscribe

Looking for an older note of great artistic quality...

On my last trip to Japan I was given a yen note that featured an image of geishas. Returning to the U.S., I gave it away as a present.
I've since learned that it was an older bill that is not in regular circulation, but I'd like to get a copy of it again for artistic use.

Any ideas on where I can purchase or barter for one of these lovely bills? Thanks in advance MeFites...
posted by artof.mulata to Shopping (8 answers total)
 
You might want to check the wikipedia page on yen banknotes and see if any look familiar. I don't see any that have geisha on them, but some pictures are missing.
posted by wayland at 4:50 PM on July 26, 2010


Response by poster: yeah, i saw that... i'm still looking for example images. not easy to come by.

apparently, it was a very rare bill. still kicking myself 3 years later for giving it away.
posted by artof.mulata at 5:33 PM on July 26, 2010


Don't bother with ebay, I just went through the 1,289 results for 'yen' - not a geisha in sight (unless you count this - that would be a couple of geishas on the reverse, yes?). That result, plus my other failed googling, leads me to believe you when you say that this is indeed, a rare note.
posted by unliteral at 10:01 PM on July 26, 2010


Response by poster: i found that one as well, unilateral, and it's not it.

i was hoping some mefite with far more knowledge than myself would know of this bill.
now i'm starting to think it might be a lost effort...

thanks for looking you two!
posted by artof.mulata at 12:30 AM on July 27, 2010


http://www.banknotes.com/jp.htm

are you sure it wasn't a decorative yen, maybe?
posted by KogeLiz at 7:31 AM on July 27, 2010


are you sure it wasn't a decorative yen, maybe?
I hate to point out the obvious, but no.
posted by unliteral at 7:49 AM on July 27, 2010


Sorry, that might have sounded a little bit harsh, but there isn't a geisha in that whole collection. I know this because despite the descriptions, I viewed them all anyway. That's what I meant by 'the obvious' - if you'd viewed the whole collection you'd know.
posted by unliteral at 8:03 AM on July 27, 2010


Response by poster: i'm about to give up on this... where could those geishas be?

if i remember correctly, it was rose and/or purple colored.
the japanese kids i was with were all amazed that i had one.

i've been searching online for a week now and had numerous people helping me in my search.

i'd like to thank everyone for looking; i wish it had been fruitful!
posted by artof.mulata at 12:03 PM on July 27, 2010


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