Japan 1910 (M43) 20 yen
The first specimen was lot 680 in Sincona sale 46 (Zurich, May 2018), where it sold for 1,200 CHF (about US$1,440 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Japan, Mutsuhito, 1867-1912. 20 Yen Jahr 43 (1910), Osaka. Fast FDC. (empire of Japan, Mutsuhito, 1867-1912, twenty yen of year 43, Osaka mint. About uncirculated)"
The second specimen was lot 72109 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $3,840. The catalog description[2] noted, "JAPAN. 20 Yen, Year 43 (1910). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. Exceeded in the PCGS census by just one example, this radiant near-Gem dazzles the eye with a pale golden-yellow hue and exceptional cartwheel brilliance." This type was struck during the Meiji era in considerable numbers but remains scarce today with some dates rare. The type was terminated in 1912. It seems likely that most of the issue remained in government hands as backing for currency until the inflation of World War One ended any likelihood of circulating the coin.
Recorded mintage: 2,163,644.
Specification: 16.67 g, 0.900 fine gold, 28.78 mm diameter, this specimen 16.67 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-50; KM-Y34: JNDA-01-6.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- The Catalog of Japanese Coins and Banknotes, Tokyo: JNDA (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Assn.), 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Auction 46, Gold Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2018.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Link to:
- 1909 10 yen
- 1909 20 yen
- 1910 20 sen
- 1911 20 yen
- Coins and currency dated 1910
- return to coins of Japan