Korea (1895) 5 fun KM-1107
This specimen was lot 7650 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $432. The catalog description[1] noted, "KOREA. 5 Fun, Year 504 (1895). Kojong (as King). PCGS AU-58 Brown. "Cho-son" Variety. With nice pockets of underlying red luster, this example shows only very little evidence in the way of handling and is a representative example of a Japanese Imperial Issue." The other variety for 1895 (KM 1108), with no dot after FUN, is slightly more common. This type was struck in years 502-505 of the Korean dynastic calendar. 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 common.
Specification: 17.2 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-1107.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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