Japan 1880 (M13) 20 sen
This specimen was lot 1111 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $36,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"JAPAN, Osaka mint, proof 20 sen, Emperor Mutsuhito, Meiji year 13 (1880), extremely rare, NGC PF 60. Very rare proof, boldly struck with sharp details in dragon and wreath, mirrored fields with very light toning, only faint handling consistent with the grade. From the special Meiji-13 proof set of 1880, mintage just 96 pieces, struck for diplomatic presentation. No complete sets are known, only two documented partial sets of eleven coins each (Pittman/Farouk [Akers auction of August 1999] and Commander [Heritage auction of January 2017]), confirming the great rarity of every denomination.
Once believed unique, this denomination is now represented by only a handful of survivors. This example, never before offered at auction, adds to the known census as one of perhaps four confirmed. Important opportunity for advanced collectors of Japanese proof coinage."
This type was struck 1873-1905 and most dates are common. This one is the key date. The superseding type (KM Y30), issued 1907-11, was 4.05 g, 0.800 fine silver and was the last twenty sen.
Recorded mintage: 96 proofs.
Specification: 5.39 g, 0.800 fine silver, 23.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-Y24; JNDA-unl.
- The Catalog of Japanese Coins and Banknotes, Tokyo: JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Assn.), 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 38, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales and the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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