Japan 1887 (M20) yen
The first specimen was lot 21431 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $900. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. Yen, Year 20 (1887). Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-62 Gold Shield. Diameter: 38.6 mm. A bright, well struck crown with reflective fields and one spot of toning on the rim." The second specimen was lot 21431 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. Yen, Year 20 (1887). Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-62 Gold Shield. A bright and lustrous survivor with crisp frosty details and light signs of handling consistent for the grade. Light attractive mottled tone gives this piece a nice look pleasing to the eye. From the BKingdom Collection." This type, roughly equal to a silver dollar, was struck 1874-1912. The diameter was slightly reduced in mid-1886, creating two varieties for 1886-87 which cannot be told apart without a micrometer. The last silver yen was struck in 1917. Prior to the opening of Japan in the 1850's and 1860's, Japanese coins were a mix of Chinese-style cast copper cash, silver rectangular "bu" and rare, gold "oban."
Recorded mintage: 8,275,787.
Specification: 26.96 g, 0.900 fine silver, .780 troy oz ASW, 38.6 mm diameter (first variety, first specimen) or 38.1 mm diameter (second variety, second specimen).
Catalog reference: KM-YA25.2 (38.6 mm) or KM-YA25.3 (38.1 mm); JNDA-01-10.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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