Japan 1894 (M27) 1 yen
This specimen was lot 40679 in Ponterio sale 168 (Philadelphia, August 2012), where it sold for $3,525. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. Yen, Meji 27 (1894). PCGS MS-66. A superb gem with beautiful peripheral tone. An MS-65 sold for $3,750.00 hammer in our November 2011 Auction." This type, roughly equal to a silver dollar, was struck 1886-1912 and is common in all grades. This date is slightly scarce. 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." Many of the early dates of Meiji yen were countermarked as "gin" (KM 28) in 1897 to circulate as trade dollars in Taiwan, annexed to Japan in 1895.
Recorded mintage: 22,118,416 (a common date).
Specification: 26.96 g, 0.900 fine silver, .780 troy oz ASW, 38.1 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM Y-A25.3.
- 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, Ponterio sale 168: The Official ANA Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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- 1891 yen gin left
- 1893 yen
- 1895 10 sen
- 1895 yen
- Coins and currency dated 1894
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