Japan (Meiji Era): gold Nibu-Kin (2 bu), ca. 1868-1869 PCGS XF45, cert.#29851551. KM(C) 21d, .223 gold and .777 silver, 11 x 19 mm, 3.0 g. Ex-Clark Smith World Gold Coins, 8/20/13 (via VCoins store). Purchased raw. I wanted something a little different and attractive (and not too pricey), so I was considering a piece of modern NCLT (non-circulating legal tender), but instead chose this cute little coin. I liked that it was exotic (and rectangular- I like square and rectangular coins, for some reason). Better yet, it was gold, albeit mostly alloyed with silver. And well below a hundred bucks, which you can't say about many older gold coins these days, even small ones. And unlike a piece of modern NCLT, it's got some historical interest, since it hearkens back to the time when Japan was changing from a feudal system under the last of the shoguns and into a more modern and industrialized society. Miscellaneous Links: PCGS cert verification page (w/TrueView image link) NGC/Krause priceguide trends Wikipedia links: Meiji Period Ichibuban (& Nibuban- rectangular coinage) When posted here, this coin was a past selection from my "Eclectic Box of 20" collection. It has since been sold, but I thought it would be fun to repost it anyway.
I've owned 3 of the gin (silver) BU (1 slabbed) from this era, they are very neat examples. I almost purchased the gold version that you have but the dealer wanted $100 so I held off. One day I would like to own one
Beautiful! I have a friend who collects Japanese coins, I would love to find/buy one as nice as your example for him. Thanks for sharing.
A hundred bucks is not unusual. The coin above cost me $80, in a sight-unseen purchase (the seller was using a stock photo of a pile of them.) But I have not seen any under $100 since, even in bulk the way I bought mine. I of course paid for the slabbing on the example above.
Prices have dropped a bit...they are easier to find and the price of gold/strong dollar might be factors too. Prices depending on era/weight/grade. Slabbed ones higher of course. I mostly collect Meiji/post-Meiji moderns (1870+) but the 'squares and rectangles' (and ovals...) are intriguing. (edited to add: Clark Smith has these at reasonable prices. His website is http://www.coinvault.com/japan.htm which is a link to his Japan page. He has common ones in XF+ condition to some rarer versions). edit #2--how much did yours weigh LordM? That is a big factor too--not just metal content but desirability/collectibility.
I just got a "like" on this old thread more than a year and a half after it was posted! As it happens, I ended up with another one of these coins in my Eclectic Box collection, which is no longer "-of 20", and now is edging closer to 40 pieces. This latest one is PCGS AU55, so a 10-point upgrade over the one above, and with some nice toning, too.
I like small coins, odd alloys and planchets like Shu and Bu coins. The search engine here is limited and I end up seeing old threads from here on my other search. Are these the 22% gold ones? 4-5 karat ish? Look at the silver and gold fighting for a place on the surface, it's purty, like an billon trachy coin, different.
.223 gold and .777 silver. And yes, it's an unusual alloy, but I like it too. I think it "works", aesthetically. I was unsure whether to call these "electrum" or not, since I think of electrum as being a natural gold-silver alloy, whereas this was man-made. But I think some references do refer to these as electrum.
