Legend Numismatics

HomeAuctionsA World of Gold Coins - The Japanese Gold Oban

A World of Gold Coins – The Japanese Gold Oban

The Japanese Gold Oban is a large oval gold plate coin, minted in Japan as part of the Tokugawa coinage system. The Oban was the largest denomination coin, valued at 10 Ryos or 10 Koban plate coins. The Tensho Oban was the first type of Oban minted, foreshadowing the full implementation of Tokugawa coinage in 1601.

Japanese Gold ObanThe appearance of an Oban of any type is an uncommon event. The Omodaka variety of the Tensho oban, however, is one of the rarest of all Oban varieties and was perhaps the first time this variety had been auctioned in the United States. Heritage offered just such an example back in September 2011 at it’s Long Beach Signature World & Ancient Coins Auction.

The Tensho Oban weight was fixed at about 165 grams and was hammered into three different sizes. This example on the left is the ‘NAGA’ (or long type), and at 170×103 mm (roughly 6-3/4 x 4 inches) it is the largest physical size of all the Obans minted.

Furthermore this is an extremely rare variety of the Tensho Naga Oban due to the different upper stamp of the two stamps on the reverse: the Omodaka stamp.

The Mori family was given permission by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (the great uniter of Japan) to make this official Oban and stamp the symbol of the their family on the reverse, which was the Omodaka plant leaf and flower.

It’s not known how many were minted, but very few exist today. The metallic composition is 73% gold and 27% silver. The ink on this coin is original and a vibrant black color. There is scuffing on the high points of the obverse with a small amount of ink missing. Repair apparent on both sides at eight o’clock on the obverse, and at the matching area on the reverse at 4 o’clock, as evidenced by the disturbance of the original texture of the surfaces near the edge. The repair seems to have been done over a hundred years ago and carefully hammered after perhaps being dropped.

This piece is one of only a handful in existence and excessively rare and represents a uniquely Japanese gold product.

 

Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctionshttps://www.ha.com/
Heritage Auction Galleries is one of the world's largest collectibles auctioneers. Besides offering rare and valuable U.S. and world coins and currency, Heritage offers ancient coins, exonumia, antiques, comic books, sports memorabilia, and many other collectibles. The firm is based in Dallas, Texas.

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Bullion Sharks Silver

L and C COIN New Coins

Blanchard and Company Gold and Precious Metals