Japan 1907 (M40) 20 yen
This specimen was lot 50049 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $9,600. The catalog description[1] noted,
"An Elusive Late Meiji Period 20 YenTied with One Other for Finest Certified. JAPAN. 20 Yen, Year 40 (1907). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-64+ Gold Shield. Impressive quality for this RARE date, with thick frost and rich overlying tone on the obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces that display similarly rich tone with fields that possess a hint of reflective gleam. As the grade suggests, few marks appear over either side. Presently tied with one other example for the finest graded of the 11 examples that have been certified between PCGS and NGC combined. From the Pinnacle Collection."
This type was struck 1897-1912 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: 817,362.
Specification: 16.67 g, 0.900 fine gold, 28.78 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-50; KM-Y34; 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]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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