Japan
Ansei Counterstamped 3 Bu ND (1859-1860) AU55 PCGS, KM101.3, Dav-272, J&V-J101 (VR), Hartill-9.89 (ER*), JNDA 09-57, JC-04-12. Host: Mexico 8 Reales 1856 Mo-GF (cf. KM377.10); Counterstamp: Arata San Bu Jo in four stamps. Among the most challenging of the countermarked silver Dollars of East and Southeast Asia, with strikingly few ever coming to market. Introduced by the Ansei government under the advice of Townsend Harris, the first United States Consul General to Japan, the so-called San Bu Sada Gin was purportedly proposed as a tool for the promotion of trade following the failure of the rectangular Ni Shu Gin coinage that had been issued on June 2, 1859. Produced in response to the Ansei Five-Power Treaties signed with the United States, Britain, Russia, France, and the Netherlands, the Ni Shu Gin had been intended as a way to prevent the outflow of the gold Koban from the Shogunate following the forceful opening of its ports via an undervalued silver coinage--an effort which was ultimately trumped by the desires of merchants and foreign powers. In addition to introducing the Ichi Bu Gin, Harris also recommended that the Japanese stamp the current value on Mexican 8 Reales in terms of Bu, making them legal tender in Japan. Tied with the Norman Jacobs example in terms of technical preservation, this is only the second example we have ever had the opportunity to offer, with just 14 total across all hosts presently recorded in PCGS's census.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/japan/japan-ansei-counterstamped-3-bu-nd-1859-1860-au55-pcgs-/a/3100-34236.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3100-07072022
HID02906262019
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Estimate: 7000-9000 USD