Japan 1913 (T2) 20 yen
This specimen was lot 50084 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $4,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "JAPAN. 20 Yen, Year 2 (1913). Osaka Mint. Yoshihito (Taisho). PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. Full near-Gem quality with satiny luster in the fields and bold color on both sides. A highly elusive date in this quality and finer, with four examples appearing in MS-64 in the PCGS population report with only two examples graded finer. From the Pinnacle Collection." This type was struck 1913-20 during the early years of the Taisho emperor. 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: 869,248.
Specification: 16.67 g, 0.900 fine gold, 28.78 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-53; KM-Y40.2; 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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