Japan 1871 (M4) 10 yen

Heritage sale 3010, lot 21469

This specimen was lot 21469 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), where it sold for $5,462.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Meiji 4 (1871) gold 10 Yen, MS65 NGC, sparkling mint brilliance with exceptionally appealing surfaces. Very scarce in this select quality." This type was struck 1871 only and is rare. As the weight of the ten yen was reduced to 8.33 g in 1897, it suggests that all the prior dates were retained by the government and then melted to make the lighter weight coin (KM Y33).

Recorded mintage: 1,867,032.

Specification: 16.66 g, 0.900 fine gold, 29.42 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: Fr-46; KM-Y12, JNDA 01-2.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• 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]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.

Link to:

• 1870 2 yen
• 1871 5 sen, all varieties
• 1871 20 sen
• 1871 50 sen, all varieties
• 1871 gold yen
• 1871 5 yen
• 1902 10 yen
• Coins and currency dated 1871
• return to coins of Japan