日本币局造十圆银样币。政府造币厂。直径20.5毫米。极为罕见而迷人的银样币，我们首次经手此版的银制样币（<em>此枚上次在2021年4月香港拍卖拍出，编号为 51227</em>），其馀均为黄铜或铜制，而且中央带字母如A、K或S。正面仅铸有三个字母，意指造币局。儘管无任何日期，风格亦无法显示制造时间，此十圆银样币于反面打有三朵梧桐花，正面使用昭和年代版式，年号位置留白。基于反面的版式，我们可推断此币应是出于在其治之下更现代设计之前（50 年代初期）。 反面可见出厂时留下的刮痕，或是作为调整重量，其馀重量较少的钱币则无此痕迹。饶有趣味的版别，学术型藏家如想搜寻日本造币厂记录以解答此稀有版别之谜的话切勿错过。JAPAN. Silver 10 Yen Pattern, ND (ca. 1940s). Bureau Mint. Time of Hirohito (Showa). PCGS SPECIMEN-62.KM-Unlisted; JNDA-Unlisted; JC-Unlisted; Bank of Japan-Unlisted; ANS-Unlisted; BM-Unlisted; Hartill-Unlisted; JV-Unlisted. Diameter: 20.5mm. INCREDIBLY RARE and fascinating, this silver pattern represents the only such time in which we have observed the type in this metal (<em>with this example previously selling in our April 2021 Hong Kong auction [Lot # 51227]</em>); the few others seen have been in brass or copper, but also presenting a central letter, such as an A, K, or S. Only three characters appear on the obverse, corresponding to the Monetary Bureau. Though not bearing any date or manner in which to assess its period of manufacture, there are other 10 Yen patterns that share the same triple paulownia flower reverse, paired with an obverse dating to the Showa era-<em>with the area for the specific year in the reign left blank</em>. Based upon this association of reverse types, we conclude that a period before the more modern designs of his reign (beginning in the 1950s) is likely the most conclusive period of manufacture. It also appears that the present piece exhibits a mint made file mark on the reverse, perhaps as a weight adjustment that none of the others display which were struck in lesser metals. This highly interesting issue is perfect for the academic collector wishing to scour Japanese mint records in search of answers for this enigmatic issuance.
