JAPAN. Bronze Monme Pattern, ND (1869). Heaton Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). NGC AU-53.

KM-Pn4; JNDA-Unlisted; JC-Unlisted; Jacobs/Vermeule-Unlisted; Bank of Japan Collection-Unlisted. The large brown flan displays a somewhat glossy finish and lovely details. Some evidence of handling consistent for the grade is noted, though very little evidence of pockmarking is presented, with some smaller contacts. It is quite likely that only a handful of these types have survived to the present day, ensuring this piece is certain to be much contested over. A STUNNINGLY RARE   pattern from the beginning of the Meiji era, this pattern tells of a transitionary period in Japan's history. With the decision to industrialize as the Western nations had, Japan's old system of currency based on cast and hammered denominations proved insufficient. Pattern denominations of the Monme, 5 Fun, and 1 Fun were produced by the Heaton Mint in Birmingham. This system of currency was rejected, and the decimal system of Yen was adopted the next year. It is hard to pin down exact numbers of extant examples, however a few, namely an example in a 2014 Kunker sale as well as an example in a 2009 Baldwin's sale, are the only others to appear in archived auction records.

Estimate: USD 3000-5000