(#2) 1906 [M39] Japan 1 Yen JNDA 01-10A [PCGS AU Details 40174813]

Description

Semi Key date in high grades.
Mintage: 3.471,297
A fun series to collect. The series begins in 1870 and one yen coins were minted in both silver and gold. Records indicate that the first silver one yen coins were minted in 1871 and 1872 [dated 1870] at the San Francisco mint while the new mint at Osaka was under construction. Gold was used domestically in Japan while the silver issues were brought back into production in 1874 to compete directly with the silver Mexican dollar in Asia. In 1878 a bimetallic standard was adopted in Japan and the silver one yen coin was minted continuously until 1897.
Counterstamped Yen: Japan officially changed to a gold standard on October 1, 1897. The silver 1 yen coins were demonetized and citizens were given until July 31, 1898 to redeem silver for gold. The silver 1 yen coins were taken out of circulation and stamped with the gin mark [left at Osaka mint, right at Tokyo mint]. Only coins dated 1897 and before would have been countermarked. These demonetized coins were then sent overseas to circulate in Japanese occupied areas of Taiwan, Korea, and, China. The silver one yen production resumed in 1901 to serve as a reserve fund for the Bank of Formosa. The production of silver one yen continued sporadically until 1914.
Chop marks: Many coins were defaced with chops from businesses throughout the Orient to identify whether it was a real silver coin. Many trade dollars that circulated through Asia were chop marked.
A full collection can be a challenge to obtain. Starting with the 1870 premier coin, 1874 and 1875 one yen, 1875-1877 trade dollars, 1878-1897 regular strikes, 1870-1897 left gin, 1870-1897 right gin, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1912, and, 1914 demonetized strikes, not to mention the several varieties throughout the series.
Happy collecting!
A fun series to collect. The series begins in 1870 and one yen coins were minted in both silver and gold. Records indicate that the first silver one yen coins were minted in 1871 and 1872 [dated 1870] at the San Francisco mint while the new mint at Osaka was under construction. Gold was used domestically in Japan while the silver issues were brought back into production in 1874 to compete directly with the silver Mexican dollar in Asia. In 1878 a bimetallic standard was adopted in Japan and the silver one yen coin was minted continuously until 1897.
Counterstamped Yen: Japan officially changed to a gold standard on October 1, 1897. The silver 1 yen coins were demonetized and citizens were given until July 31, 1898 to redeem silver for gold. The silver 1 yen coins were taken out of circulation and stamped with the gin mark [left at Osaka mint, right at Tokyo mint]. Only coins dated 1897 and before would have been countermarked. These demonetized coins were then sent overseas to circulate in Japanese occupied areas of Taiwan, Korea, and, China. The silver one yen production resumed in 1901 to serve as a reserve fund for the Bank of Formosa. The production of silver one yen continued sporadically until 1914.
Chop marks: Many coins were defaced with chops from businesses throughout the Orient to identify whether it was a real silver coin. Many trade dollars that circulated through Asia were chop marked.
A full collection can be a challenge to obtain. Starting with the 1870 premier coin, 1874 and 1875 one yen, 1875-1877 trade dollars, 1878-1897 regular strikes, 1870-1897 left gin, 1870-1897 right gin, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1912, and, 1914 demonetized strikes, not to mention the several varieties throughout the series.
Happy collecting!