Japan 1874 (M7) yen Fr-49
This specimen was lot 30213 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $5,287.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "A Rare and Collectible Type Meiji gold Yen Year 7 (1874), MS65 NGC. Bold details with deep red gold toning. After the 4th Year of the Meiji era (1871), gold yen coins had become of little use as the silver Yen was widely accepted and preferred by the public. Although mintage reports for Year 7 account for 116,341 pieces, mintage numbers of subsequent years suggest the vast majority of the Meiji 7 gold Yens were never put into circulation. The few pieces that do appear are, unlike the present example, usually circulated or problem pieces." This type was struck 1873-80 in moderate numbers but is rare. None were struck after 1892. Ten rin = one sen and 1000 rin = one yen.
Recorded mintage: 116,341.
Specification: 1.67 g, 0.900 fine gold, 12 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-Y9a, Fr-49.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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