Korea (1881) mun
The first specimen was lot 3717 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "KOREA: Yi Hyong, 1864-1897, AE mun, Palace Guard Office, ND (1881), "seed" or mother coin (mojeon), mu above, ch'on below, "4" to left, Choice XF." The second specimen was lot 3718 in the same sale, where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "KOREA: Yi Hyong, 1864-1897, AE mun, Palace Guard Office, ND (1881), mojeon "seed" or "mother" coin, series 7, mu at top, cheon at bottom, Graded 88 by GBCA Grading Company." The mun was the Korean equivalent of the cast Chinese cash made by the billions over a thousand years. This type was made prior to the introduction of milled coinage to Korea.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 4 g, cast bronze, 25 mm diameter, the first specimen is 3.56 g, the second specimen 4.9 g.
Catalog reference: KM-337.4s, the second specimen KM-337.7s.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
Links: