Japan 1874 (M7) 50 sen
This specimen was lot 21140 in Stack's Bowers 2018 NYINC sale (New York, January 2018), where it sold for $48,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. 50 Sen, Year 7 (1874). NGC MS-62. EXTREMELY RARE KEY DATE. According to the JNDA and Krause catalogs the recorded mintage for this issue is 95,304 pieces struck. Even with such a large mintage it remained so rare that the famed Dr. Norman Jacobs and Cornelius Vermeule had indicated that this date did not exist. Sharply struck with good definition of the minute details. Deeply toned with underlying luster displaying attractive slate grey highlighted by blue, purple and golden hues. A chance to acquire a real rarity of Japanese numismatics that is not to be missed." This type, roughly equal to a half dollar, was issued 1873-77, 1880, 1885 and 1897-1905. The later dates are common.
Recorded mintage: 95,304, a rare date.
Specification: 13.48 g, 0.900 fine silver, 30.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-Y-25; JNDA-01-14.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, John Kraljevich and Cris Chatigny, The January 2018 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.
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