日本明治三年半圆铜样币。大阪造币厂。 难得一觅的明治早期样币。Jacobs 和 Vermeule 编撰的图录中亦从失的一枚，钱币资料中寥寥可见。此枚的设计和同年发行的 1 円样币近乎一致，仅面值有异，此枚為 1/2 円。令人好奇的是，日本未有用此半円分数面值，而是改用了 50 分。无论背后的原因是什么，该枚都 极其珍罕 难觅，PCGS 仅评有同版一枚铜质、是枚及另一枚合金材质币。 币面压铸卓越，原厂红光充盈，图文跃然生动。仅有极其轻微的经手痕跡，可见自出厂便被精心呵护。日本钱币中登峰造极的一枚，与其失之交臂便难得再见，编者仅见另一枚為博物馆藏。倾心於举世稀珍的藏家大可為之千金一掷。 JAPAN. Copper 1/2 Yen Pattern, Year 3 (1870). London (British Royal) Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS SPECIMEN-63 Red Brown. KM-Pn15; JNDA-Unlisted; JC-Unlisted; Jacobs/Vermeule-Unlisted; Bank of Japan Collection-157. This elusive pattern is among the less commonly seen of the early Meiji patterns, if such a statement can be made cogently. It eluded cataloging by Jacobs and Vermeule and has only shown up a vanishingly small amount in the numismatic record. The design is identical in nearly every element to the Yen pattern of the same year, excepting the denomination, which clearly denominates this piece as a 1/2 Yen. Somewhat curiously, Japan chose to denominate this valuation in the future at 50 Sen, eschewing fractional denominations. Whatever the reasoning behind this decision, this has left this pattern denomination as EXCEPTIONALLY RARE , with PCGS recording one striking in copper, this example, and one in white metal. Stunningly struck surfaces offers up much in the way of handsome mint red, most evident near the protected elements of the entrancingly applied design. The coin shows very little evidence of handling, implying that it had been revered and treasured since the near the time of its striking. In the end this mysterious piece offers the chance to own one of the most compelling of Japanese issues, and one that is unlikely to be offered again in the near future, with this cataloger only able to find other examples in museum collections. For those who love to own pieces that are among the most difficult to locate, this Pattern should call out to be bid upon.</p>
