Japan 1912 (T1) 20 yen
This specimen was lot 50083 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $7,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. 20 Yen, Year 1 (1912). Osaka Mint. Yoshihito (Taisho). PCGS MS-65 Gold Shield. An immaculate Gem representative of this first year Emperor Taisho issue, this coin exhibits immensely bright luster and surfaces quality that is seldom rivaled. According, this piece is unsurpassed in grade at PCGS, which should appeal to the collector focused on acquiring elite certified items. From the Pinnacle Collection." This type was struck 1912 only during the Taisho emperor's first year of rule. 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: 1,272,450 of Fr-50 (Meiji type) plus 177,644 for the Taisho emperor.
Specification: 16.67 g, 0.900 fine gold, 28.78 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-53; KM-Y40.1.
- 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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