Japanese 20 Yen

The Japanese 20 Yen is a large gold coin of the early Meiji period, and the example shown is dated 1870, corresponding to Meiji year 3. One side displays a dragon coiled among clouds surrounded by decorative motifs, while the other carries a large floral design framing the value of 20 yen. It represents the highest gold denomination introduced when Japan adopted the yen and a modern, Western-style decimal coinage.

Struck at the very start of Japan's modern coinage system, the 20 yen was a substantial gold piece intended for major transactions and reserves rather than everyday use. The dragon motif and radiant sunburst and floral emblems make it one of the most visually distinctive gold coins of 19th-century Asia, and early-dated pieces like the 1870 issue are prized by collectors of world gold.

In 1871 Japan formally established the yen as its currency unit under the New Currency Act, replacing the older mon and ryo system with a decimal coinage modeled on Western practice. Coins bearing the 1870 (Meiji 3) date were among the earliest gold pieces of this reform, produced as the new Osaka Mint began operations with imported machinery and Western technical guidance.

The 20 yen stood at the top of the gold series, above the 10, 5, 2, and 1 yen denominations. The dragon that dominates one face was a traditional East Asian symbol of imperial authority and power, rendered here in fine relief, while the reverse combines chrysanthemum and paulownia-style floral emblems with sunburst rays and banners around the denomination. This early 'old type' 20 yen was minted only briefly and in very limited numbers, making it one of the scarcer and more significant issues of the entire Meiji gold series.

Look for a gold coin with a dragon shown among clouds and scroll-like decorative motifs on one side, encircled by inscriptions in Japanese characters that name the country, the emperor's reign year, and the value. The opposite side shows a large radiating floral and sunburst design with banners and paulownia or chrysanthemum emblems framing the '20 yen' denomination.

The date is expressed in the Japanese era system rather than Western numerals; a Meiji year 3 coin corresponds to 1870. Genuine pieces are struck in gold with a warm yellow tone and are noticeably heavy for their size. Because the design was reused with variations across several years, confirm the specific reign-year characters and the style of the dragon and border to distinguish the early 'old type' from later revised issues.

The 20 yen was the largest gold denomination of the Meiji series and was produced in far smaller quantities than the silver coins of the period, so genuine examples are scarce and generally command strong prices as bullion-plus-rarity gold. The early 1870 (Meiji 3) 'old type' in particular is a key date sought by collectors of Japanese and world gold, and quality survivors can be highly valuable.

Value depends heavily on the exact year, type variety, and condition, since even modest wear and any signs of cleaning, mounting, or repair strongly affect price. Because high-value Japanese gold has been extensively copied, professional authentication and third-party grading are essential before assigning a figure. Treat all valuations as approximate ranges and confirm against recent, comparable auction results rather than a single quoted price.