Japan 1898 (M31) 10 yen
This specimen was lot 34295 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "Japan: Meiji gold 10 Yen Year 31 (1898) MS62 NGC. Toned just slightly reddish, giving a honeyed color to the surfaces, with a pleasant light-dark contrast between the devices and fields." This type was struck during the Meiji era in considerable numbers but remains scarce today with some dates rare. It seems likely that most of the issue remained in government hands as backing for currency until the inflation of World War One ended any likelihood of circulating the coin.
Recorded mintage: 3,176,134.
Specification: 8.33 g, 0.900 fine gold, 21.2 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-51, KM Y33.
- 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 and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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