Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
May 2022 Hong Kong Auction 3-9 May 2022
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JAPAN. Aluminum Sen Pattern, Year 39 (1906). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). NGC PROOF-62.
KM-Unlisted; JNDA-Unlisted; JC-Unlisted; Jacobs/Vermeule-Unlisted; Bank of Japan Collection-Unlisted. This incredibly interesting off-metal striking provides a phenomenal glimpse into a different composition. The standard issues in bronze were not produced for circulation in 1906, with an extremely limited number being made as presentation strikes. It is unclear why pieces from 1906 and subsequently 1909 were never circulated, with both dates becoming EXCESSIVELY RARE in the limited number of proofs that remain. It is even more of a mystery why such a piece was produced in aluminum, as this issue predates the first circulation strike in aluminum, the 1/10 Penny from West Africa that was produced the following year. The deafening silence of all the relevant references indicate the superb RARITY of the piece, making it an example without any known peers and, quite possibly, unique.
KM-Unlisted; JNDA-Unlisted; JC-Unlisted; Jacobs/Vermeule-Unlisted; Bank of Japan Collection-Unlisted. This incredibly interesting off-metal striking provides a phenomenal glimpse into a different composition. The standard issues in bronze were not produced for circulation in 1906, with an extremely limited number being made as presentation strikes. It is unclear why pieces from 1906 and subsequently 1909 were never circulated, with both dates becoming EXCESSIVELY RARE in the limited number of proofs that remain. It is even more of a mystery why such a piece was produced in aluminum, as this issue predates the first circulation strike in aluminum, the 1/10 Penny from West Africa that was produced the following year. The deafening silence of all the relevant references indicate the superb RARITY of the piece, making it an example without any known peers and, quite possibly, unique.
The coin itself presents a nice proof surface, with some delicate mirroring. Details are boldly applied by the strong strike. Some oxidation, common on aluminum pieces, along with some marking and planchet flaws are noted. All of these subtle drawbacks are consistent for the grade, and pale in comparison to the tremendous rarity of the piece. With this example being the only one we could confirm to exist, it is possibly the last chance to acquire a specimen, perhaps for a generation. No
Estimate: $7000 - $10000