Japan 1905 (M38) yen
This yen was struck in Japan during the reign of the Meiji emperor, Mutsuhito (1867-1912). The type was struck 1886-1912; this date (year 36) is among the more common. 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. This specimen was lot 33852 in Heritage sale 3042 (Long Beach, September 2015), where it sold for $376. The catalog description[1] noted, "Meiji Yen Year 38 (1905) MS64 PCGS. A truly attractive selection with desirable, multi-colored tone and a choice amount of mint bloom that radiates upon rotation."
Recorded mintage: 5,031,503.
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, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- The Catalog of Japanese Coins and Banknotes, Tokyo: JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Assn.), 2014.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World Coin Auction 3042, featuring the Read and Bob Bennett Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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- 1904 yen
- 1905 10 sen
- 1905 20 sen
- 1905 50 sen
- 1905 20 yen
- 1906 yen
- Coins and currency dated 1905
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