Japan 1871 (M4) 5 yen
This specimen was lot 51201 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. 5 Yen, Year 4 (1871). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-65+ Gold Shield. With border. The single third finest certified of the date on the PCGS population report with only five finer (PCGS MS 66 and MS 66+). A superlative example of the type exhibiting flashy semi-reflective luster with frosty devices, all complemented by lovely light mottled sunset hued patina adding to its originality and desirability certain to garner much interest from collectors of this series." This type of 1870-71 is very rare despite the substantial mintage, suggesting that most were melted by the government and never issued. The diameter was reduced to 21.82 mm in 1872 (KM Y11a).
Recorded mintage: 273,536 for 1870-71.
Specification: 8.33 g, 0.900 fine gold, 23.84 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-47; KM-Y11; JNDA-01-03.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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