Afternoon everyone ….
We are coming down the home stretch here with the twelve days of Christmas posts. Today is day eleven, I’ve had a variety of items. My wish list could go on for months, so picking twelve is a challenge on its own.
The coin I have chosen today is a world coin. It’s been on my list of things to buy for a few years now. Every time a nice one comes up at auction for a semi reasonable price. They are gone instantly, making it more of a challenge.
The coin is a 1905 Japanese one yen coin. Because I want it for collector value, I will only buy a graded version. This is one of the most counterfeited world coin known. If it looks to good to be that price, it most certainly is a fair. A non mint state version of this coin can run up to about $400. Mint state version $600 and up.
Here are the coin facts from Numista:
Issuer Japan
Emperor Meiji (1867-1912)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 20-45 (1887-1912)
Calendar Japanese - Meiji era
Value 1 Yen (1 JPY)
Currency Yen (1871-date)
Composition Silver (.900)
Weight 26.96 g
Diameter 38.1 mm
Thickness 2.76 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized Yes
Number N# 5505 Help
References Y# A25.3, JNDA# 01-10A
Obverse
Dragon within beaded circle, legends above, written value below
Lettering:
年 四 十 二 治 明 · 本 日 大
· 416 · ONE YEN ·900 ·
Translation:
Great Japan · Year 24 of Meiji
· 416 · One yen · 900 ·
Engraver: Kano Natsuo
Designer: Kano Natsuo
Reverse
Chrysanthemum Flower (Coat of Arms & Emperor's Royal Seal)
Branches of Paulownia Flower (Heart shaped leaf) and Chrysanthemum Flower on either side of the value
Lettering:
一
圓
Translation:
1
Yen
Engraver: Kano Natsuo
Designer: Kano Natsuo
Edge
Reeded
1 Yen - Meiji (small type) - obverse
© Idolenz (CC BY-NC)
Mint
Japan Mint (独立行政法人造幣局 / Dokuritsu Gyōsei Hōjin Zōheikyoku), Japan
Aside from it having a really cool looking dragon on it, there is a sentimental reason why I want this coin as well. My father was stationed in Japan for over two years while in the service. He loved Japan and was going to stay, but his commanders needed him somewhere else.
My father talked about his time in Japan often. He loved the beauty and culture of Japan, and you could tell by how he spoke about it.
So this coin would be a nice addition to the collection.
HO HO HO ONLY 13 MORE TO GO….
