Japan 1888 (M21) 5 yen
This specimen was lot 71652 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $960. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. 5 Yen, Year 21 (1888). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS Genuine--Mount Removed, VF Details. A fairly SCARCE and seldom seen date, making this former jewelry piece a great hole filler at a much more reduced price than would otherwise be expected." This type was struck 1872-97 and then the denomination was reduced in weight 50%. One may surmise that the regime melted all the old weight specimens it could lay hands on and most dates, except the 1872-73, are rare.
Recorded Mintage: 149,249.
Specification: 8.33 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21.82 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-47a; KM Y-11a; JNDA-01-3A; JC-9-3-2.
- 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 June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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