Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
April 2021 Hong Kong Auction 5-8 Apr 2021
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JAPAN. 20 Yen, Year 10 (1877). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS MS-64 Prooflike Gold Shield.
Fr-45; KM-Y-13; JNDA-01-1. Mintage: 29. A coin that has it all, this piece pairs EXTREME RARITY with visual superiority. Considering it's minuscule mintage, as an issue, it was likely struck in its entirety for the purpose of presentation to either high ranking individuals within Japan or foreign dignitaries that found themselves guests of the state. Therefore, it is unsurprising that this coin was produced with great care. One such instance where its exceptional nature is overwhelmingly apparent is at the edges, which are incredibly broad and flat (relative to the more familiar 1870 20 Yen issues), with rich frost that extends to where they square off with the rims. This luxurious treatment serves to frame the centers, which also display special qualities. Similar to the edges, the designs, show refined frost, while each and every element displays crisp definition. Perhaps most extraordinary however are the surrounding fields, which showcase full prooflike reflectivity, the result contributing to the coin's glorious cameo appearance.
Fr-45; KM-Y-13; JNDA-01-1. Mintage: 29. A coin that has it all, this piece pairs EXTREME RARITY with visual superiority. Considering it's minuscule mintage, as an issue, it was likely struck in its entirety for the purpose of presentation to either high ranking individuals within Japan or foreign dignitaries that found themselves guests of the state. Therefore, it is unsurprising that this coin was produced with great care. One such instance where its exceptional nature is overwhelmingly apparent is at the edges, which are incredibly broad and flat (relative to the more familiar 1870 20 Yen issues), with rich frost that extends to where they square off with the rims. This luxurious treatment serves to frame the centers, which also display special qualities. Similar to the edges, the designs, show refined frost, while each and every element displays crisp definition. Perhaps most extraordinary however are the surrounding fields, which showcase full prooflike reflectivity, the result contributing to the coin's glorious cameo appearance.
It's no exaggeration to consider Emperor Meiji's 10th year 20 Yen one of Japan's most important modern-era coins. Because of this, examples held outside of museums by individuals seldom appear on the market. Upon consultation with a database that aggregates auction results by most numismatic firms around the world over the past 20 years, no such appearances of this coin were found. In fact, we were able to locate only one such record of this issue selling at auction. That appearance occurred in November 2008 as lot 974 in a Ginza Coin auction. Achieving what remains a record price for a modern-era coin sold at auction by that firm to this day, it achieved an impressive all-in price of 42,180,000 JPY (approximately $400,000 USD at current exchange rate). Considering how the appetite for extreme rarities has only grown over the intervening decade plus, there's truly no telling where this example will settle. What is certain is that it will immediately gratify its owner, as the opportunity to own such an important and magnificent item is almost as rare as the items themselves.
From the Pinnacle Collection.
Estimate: $300000.00- $600000.00