Why are Japanese gold coins UNC + so expensive? Low mintages or low mintages with a significant melting during WW2?
¥2 1876, Mintage 178 1877, Mintage 39 1880, Mintage 87 ¥10 1877, Mintage 36 1880, Mintage 136 I could go on, but why bother? On the other hand, there are many issues available at reasonable prices. I picked up this Meiji 3 (first year of modern coinage) ¥2 for less than $700, including S/H from France last year. These are the seller's photos, since I didn't take my own before it went to the safety deposit box. Y#10, 3.3333g .900 gold, 17.48mm, Mintage 883,000
Actually, if you were to learn the recent news, there are some gold coins minted in the last days of Meiji that were NEVER released by the government and was only minted for just 3 days if I am not wrong. What it was and when, I don't remember, but it was during the time when gold export was deemed to be harmful to the economy and hence, gold coins got held by the government. And if you think Japanese gold coins during the Meiji era is expensive, try looking for a Korean 5, 10 or a 20 won gold coin. I am betting that you can never see one in your life. Let's not forget, gold coins in Japan typically is expensive. Try to look for an oban - now that's a piece of art
