Product Description
Acquire a fascinating piece of late-Edo period Japanese monetary history with this 1853–1865 Japan 1 Shu Gold Coin, cataloged under JNDA 09-53 and C-12 with the "Kaei" (嘉永) era character markers. Struck during the turbulent final decade of the Tokugawa shogunate—spanning the arrival of Commodore Perry's Black Ships and the opening of Japan—this traditional rectangular gold-alloy coin represents a pivotal era of transition in Japanese numismatics.
Key Highlights:
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Choice Mint State 62 Preservation: Certified by PCGS in MS 62 condition, displaying original reflective golden surfaces, crisp hand-punched stamps, and clean edges characteristic of uncirculated rectangular Koban-style fractions.
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Historic Kaei Era Attribution: Features the official mint and era stamps (JNDA 09-53 C-12), issued during the historic years leading up to the Meiji Restoration.
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Controlled Census Profile: Supported by established PCGS population metrics, with 665 examples recorded at the MS 62 tier, providing a stable liquidity baseline for advanced Japanese coin collectors.
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Essential Asian Cabinet Addition: A cornerstone type for any collection focusing on pre-Meiji gold and silver fractional currency, samurai-era economics, or traditional Japanese shape coinages.
1853–1865 Japan Kaei Era 1 Shu – JNDA 09-53 C-12 – PCGS MS62
An outstanding example of late Edo Period coinage, this 1853–1865 Japan Kaei Era 1 Shu is certified PCGS Mint State 62 and represents one of the most iconic rectangular silver issues of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Cataloged as JNDA 09-53 C-12, this historic coin circulated during Japan's final years before the Meiji Restoration, a pivotal era that transformed the nation's political and monetary systems.
Struck in high-fineness silver, the Kaei 1 Shu features the traditional rectangular "bar money" format that distinguishes Japanese feudal coinage from Western issues. The obverse bears the official Ginza mint inscriptions, while the reverse displays the denomination "One Shu" in elegant Japanese characters.
Certified PCGS MS62, this example is a true Mint State survivor with original surfaces, strong detail, and excellent eye appeal. Although the Kaei 1 Shu was produced in substantial numbers, Mint State certified examples are increasingly sought after by collectors assembling high-grade Japanese type sets and Edo Period collections.
Coin Details:
- Country: Japan
- Period: Kaei Era (1853–1865)
- Denomination: 1 Shu
- Composition: Silver (.968 fine)
- Reference: JNDA 09-53 C-12
- Certification: PCGS MS62
- Weight: Approximately 1.89 grams
- Historical Period: Late Edo / Tokugawa Shogunate
A classic piece of pre-Meiji Japanese coinage, offering collectors an attractive certified Mint State example from one of Japan's most historically significant eras.