Korea (1893) 1/4 yang
This specimen was lot 24143 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "KOREA. 1/4 Yang, Year 502 (1893). Yi Hyong. PCGS AU-58 Gold Shield. A decently struck coin with just a touch of weakness on the reverse center. The surfaces are nicely original with deep gray toning throughout, and a few radial die cracks populate the obverse." The other variety of quarter yang (KM 1109) was not struck in 1893. Korea, long a protectorate of the Chinese empire, was attempting to organize herself as a fully independent nation when she fell victim to the power struggle between Russia and Japan. Japanese influence, predominant after the Sino-Japanese war of 1895, was challenged by Russian expansionism in the late 1890's. This culminated in the Russo-Japanese war of 1905 and Russian defeat. Japan annexed Korea in 1910 and colonized her until 1945.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: copper-nickel.
Catalog reference: KM-1110; K&C-36.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
Link to: