Japan 1905 (M38) 20 yen
This specimen was lot 3105 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2017), where it sold for $3,760. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. 20 Yen, Year 38 (1905). NGC MS-66. Tied with just three other examples for finest certified by both PCGS and NGC. A stunning example, sharply struck with soft satiny luster." This type was struck during the Meiji era in considerable numbers but remains scarce today with some dates rare. The type was terminated in 1910. 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: 1,045,904.
Specification: 16.33 g, 0.900 fine gold, 28.78 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-50; Y-34; JNDA-01-6.
- 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.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, The January 2017 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Richard Stuart Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.
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