Item number: A2627

Year: ND

Material: Brass

Size: 26.0 x 26.0 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 5.4 g

Manufactured by: Osaka Mint

Provenance: Auction World 2025

This is a brass sample coin issued by the Osaka Mint, which was responsible for overseeing coin production throughout Japan. It was produced for the purpose of material testing.

On the obverse of the specimen coin, the characters for “造幣局” (Mint Bureau) are inscribed in Japanese kanji at the 12 o’clock, 4 o’clock, and 8 o’clock positions, respectively. At the centre, there is a stamped letter “S”. The reverse side features paulownia leaf emblems—a traditional symbol of the Japanese imperial family—positioned at the same three locations. At the centre is another stamped “S”, slightly larger in size compared to that on the obverse.

This type of brass sample coin, produced by the Japan Mint for internal material testing purposes, exists in several variants. In addition to the version stamped with an “S” at the centre, there are also examples bearing a “K”, the Japanese characters for “試作” (meaning “trial production”), as well as versions with a blank centre (unstamped).

Located in Osaka, the Japan Mint was established in AD 1871 as part of the broader reforms of the Meiji Restoration. Its functions extend beyond coin production, encompassing responsibilities such as the manufacture of official medals and decorations for the Japanese government.

物件編號: A2627

年代: ND

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 26.0 x 26.0 x 1.2 mm

重量: 5.4 g

製造地: 大阪造幣局

來源: 環球拍賣 2023

這是一枚主責日本全國鑄幣業務，位於大阪的造幣局用以測驗材質的黃銅樣幣。

樣幣正面的12點、4點和8點鐘方向，分別以日本漢字拼出「造幣局」三字，正中央則有一個「S」戳記。樣幣背面同樣在相同的三個方位，各有一個象徵日本皇室的桐葉紋作為裝飾，正中間則是相較正面尺寸稍大的「S」戳記。

該款日本造幣局在內部用以檢驗黃銅材質的樣幣，除了帶有「S」戳記的版本外，尚有在中央打印「K」、「試作」和留白等三種版本。

坐落於大阪的日本造幣局成立於公元1871年，為明治維新的改革下所設立的產物。日本造幣局的業務不僅侷限於鑄幣，同時也承擔日本政府的獎章製造等業務。