Japan 1877 (M10) 5 sen

from the Stack's Bowers 2020 Collector's Choice sale, lot 73097

photo courtesy Stacks Bowers LLC

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen was lot 73097 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, June 2020), where it sold for $105. The catalog description^[1] noted, "JAPAN. 5 Sen, Year 10 (1877). Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-63 Gold Shield. Type I ("Mei Ji" not connected). Deep steel gray toning is accentuated by some subtle golden hints throughout. A choice minor from early in the reign of the emperor." This type was struck 1873-77, 1880, 1892 and converted to copper-nickel after 1889. Altho the 1877 is somewhat scarce, the 1880 and 1892 are essentially uncollectible. Varieties exist as to whether the characters are connected or not.

Recorded mintage: 22,024,167.

Specification: 1.35 g, 0.800 fine silver, 15.2 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM Y-22; JNDA-01-35.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• The Catalog of Japanese Coins and Banknotes, Tokyo: JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Assn.), 2014.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The June 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.

Link to:

• 1875 5 sen
• 1877 sen
• 1877 2 sen
• 1877 10 sen
• 1877 trade dollar
• 1889 5 sen
• Coins and currency dated 1877