KOREA. 10 Won, Year 10 (1906). Osaka Mint. Kuang Mu (1897-1907). NGC MS-66.21.4 mm; 8.31 gms. Alan D. Craig #52, J-V AD5, Fr-2, KM-1130. Reeded edge. Dragon coined in a dotted circle clutches the mythological Pearl of Celestial Wisdom, outer legend states the national name Dae Han, Regnal date, denomination in the Korean phonetic alphabet; Reverse: Vertical denomination under Korean Plum Flower Crest, all in wreaths composed of Rose of Sharon and Plum branches. The gold coins of 20, 10 and 5 Won appeared just before Koreas independence ended with the Japanese occupation. Of those 5,012 struck in the 10 Won denomination, most were kept in the Dai Ichi Ginko, Bank of Japan, as backing for gold notes, and nearly all were subsequently melted after the annexation. Few survive today, and this wonderfully pedigreed piece, tied for the highest graded with one other at NGC and PCGS combined, may very well be the finest, with glowing yellow-gold luster, an entirely crisp strike and surfaces on the dragon side that are virtually pristine. A cant-miss opportunity for the collector of elite Asian gold coinage!<p><em>The regnal name Kuang Mu, "Military Illustriousness," was assumed by King Kojong, in 1897 and appeared on the last Korean coins struck at Osaka to Japanese specifications. The Won coins show a Japanese-style dragon grasping the Celestial Pearl, unlike the Chinese dragons that only pursued this mythological symbol of wisdom. </em><p><p>NGC MS-66.
