Japan 1870 (M3) yen

Heritage sale 3064, lot 33388

This specimen was lot 33388 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $1,800. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Meiji Yen Year 3 (1870) MS64 PCGS. Type I issue. An important one year type and the first large silver Yen minted in Japan. With sea green and light champagne coloring upon pleasing silvery gray surfaces. Few attain this lofty grade." Of the three varieties noted for this date, the type I is the most common. Gold yen were struck 1871, 1874-80; silver yen were struck 1874-75, 1878-97.

Recorded mintage: 3,685,049 (all varieties).

Specification: 26.96 g, 0.900 fine silver, 38.6 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 5.1.

Source:

• 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.

Link to:

• Akita (1862) 100 mon KM-6.2
• Japan 1870 (M3) 5 sen shallow scales
• 1870 10 sen
• 1870 20 sen
• 1870 2 yen
• 1870 5 yen
• 1870 20 yen
• 1871 gold yen
• 1874 yen
• Coins and currency dated 1870
• return to coins of Japan