South Korea 1966 5 won
This specimen was lot 1192 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "KOREA (SOUTH): Republic, AE 5 won, 1966, a choice lustrous mint state example, PCGS graded MS65." This type was struck in large quantities 1966-70. Worthless in circulated condition, this date has a substantial catalog value in mint state. It is still theoretically legal tender but inflation has rendered it worthless. South Korea is today a prosperous nation filled with teenagers playing video games. However, in 1966, South Korea was still recovering from the devastation of the Korean War (1950-53) which more or less flattened the entire country.
Recorded mintage: 4,500,000.
Specification: 3.09 g, brass, 20.4 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-5.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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