The Stack’s Bowers
and Ponterio April Hong Kong Showcase Auction promises to offer coins of the highest
quality as well as some that have not been seen for a generation. This week the
island nation of Japan provides a tremendous coin from the onset of the Meiji
Restoration, when Emperor Meiji wrested control of Japan from the Shogunate.
This began a rapid modernization of the state that would bring Japan to the
status of a world power.
This coin proudly
displays the Imperial dragon spiraling in the center of the design, grasping the
pearl of wisdom. The dragon is surrounded by a pearled border, with the
inscriptions around. The lower inscription states the denomination in Japanese:
“20 Yen.” The upper legend states: “Great Japan, Meiji 3 Year,” which means the
third year of the Meiji emperor, or 1870. The reverse is a lovely and ornate
crest unburdened by characters or legends. The central design is a sunburst
crest superimposed on sacred mirror, all within a two-part wreath, with one
side composed of chrysanthemum and the other half Pawlonia. The Pawlonia flower
is the official symbol for the Prime Minister of Japan, the cabinet, and by
extension – the government of Japan. A chrysanthemum blossom appears above,
with a Pawlonia crest below, and two military banners flanking the wreath. This
first year of issue is the only collectible year for this always popular type.
While we are no longer accepting
consignments for our April Hong Kong Showcase Auction, we are accepting
consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our August 2018
Hong Kong Showcase Auction. In addition to this, we are currently taking
consignments of world and ancient coins as well as world paper money for our May
2018 Collector’s Choice Online Auction and August 2018 ANA Auction. Time is
running short, so if you are interested in consigning your coins and paper
currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one
of our consignment directors.
