Japan (1859-68) bu
This specimen was lot 71648 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $288. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. Bu, ND (1859-68). Edo Mint. Ansei Era. PCGS MS-65. A tremendously attractive Gem example of this rectangularly shaped piece of 'Samurai money,' an increasingly popular facet of numismatics."
The dating of hammered and cast coinage of Japan is confusing. The SCWC states that the coins were not necessarily made during the era to which they are marked. Not all the eras have coinage. The SCWC notes the following:
- Genbun period 1736-41 (used on coinage 1736-1818), emperor was Sakuramachi-tennō (桜町天皇).
- Meiwa period 1764-72, empress and emperor were Go-Sakuramachi-tennō (後桜町天皇) and Go-Momozono-tennō (後桃園天皇).
- An'ei period 1772-81, emperors were Go-Momozono-tennō (後桃園天皇) and Kōkaku-tennō (光格天皇).
- Tenmei period 1781-89, emperor was Kōkaku Tennō' (光格天皇).
- Kansei period 1789-1801, emperor was Kōkaku-tennō (光格天皇).
- Kyowa period 1801-04, emperor was Kōkaku-tennō (光格天皇).
- Bunka period 1804-18, emperors were Kōkaku-tennō (光格天皇) and Ninkō-Tennō (仁孝天皇).
- Bunsei period 1818-30 (used on coinage 1820-37), emperor was Ninkō-tennō (仁孝天皇).
- Tempo period 1830-44 (used on coinage 1837-58), emperor was Ninko-tennō (仁孝天皇).
- Koka period 1844-48, emperors were Ninkō-tennō (仁孝天皇) and Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇).
- Kaei period 1848-54 (used on coinage 1853-65), emperor was Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇).
- Ansei period 1854-60 (used on coinage 1859-60), emperor was Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇).
- Man'en period 1860-61, emperor was Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇).
- Bunkyu period 1861-64, emperor was Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇).
- Genji period 1864-65, emperor was Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇).
- Keio period 1865-68, emperors were Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇) and Meiji-tennō (明治天皇).
- Meiji period 1868-1912, emperor was Meiji-tennō (明治天皇), better known to collectors as Mutsuhito.
Milled coinage of the Western type was introduced early in the Meiji era and the cast and hammered coinage discontinued.
Recorded Mintage: 11,398,600.
Specification: 8.63 g, 0.873 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM C-16a; JNDA-09-52; JC-04-7.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- The Catalog of Japanese Coins and Banknotes, Tokyo: JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Assn.), 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
Link to:
- Japan (1853-65) shu, Kaei Era
- Japan (1856-60) 2 bu Ansei era
- Japan (1859) 3 bu, c/s on Mexico 8 reales
- Japan (1859) koban, Ansei era
- Japan (1865-68) 50 mon, Keio period
- Japan (1868-69) bu, Meiji Era
- Japan (1868-69) 2 bu, Meiji Era
- Coins and currency dated 1859