Japan 1901 (M34) 10 yen
The first specimen was lot 51199 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $1,620. The catalog description[1] noted,
"JAPAN. 10 Yen, Year 34 (1901). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. This attractive survivor offers much originality with lovely satiny surfaces, bold devices and nice cartwheel luster all complemented by a thin veneer of pale golden tone adding to its pleasing appearance."
The second specimen was lot 50060 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. 10 Yen, Year 34 (1901). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-65 Gold Shield. A lovely Gem example that is VERY SCARCE in this certified grade, with only four examples graded MS-65 at PCGS with three examples deemed finer. From the Pinnacle Collection." 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. It was last struck in 1910.
Recorded mintage: 1,654,682.
Specification: 8.33 g, 0.900 fine gold, .241 troy oz AGW, milled edge.
Catalog reference: Fr-51; KM-Y33; JNDA-01-7.
- 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, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- The Catalog of Japanese Coins and Banknotes, Tokyo: JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Assn.), 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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