I believe a few months ago APMEX was selling 20 SEN silver coins. Though when I looked on kitco, and gainsville they didn't even list them. I looked on ebay but it appears to be very limited. Getting to my point though, I'd like to start building a collection of japanese junk silver because I've been interested in those type of silver coins.
Because you can't get them for junk value. I would have bought all of them and sell them way over silver bullion. Basic economics 101: supply versus demand.
Whatever it is, unless you are dealing with really low grade or damaged Japanese silver coins, they rarely come cheap. There are exceptions - one is if the seller is ignorant of what it's really worth or seller just wants to get rid of it. I don't know what APMEX was doing but you'll never know if it was done for promotions. Should have bought them when the opportunity was there.
Meiji era coins of those denominations are .800 silver (the 1 yen coins are .900.) They started out .800 in Taisho too, but later in Taisho and Showa some were .720 I believe. I agree they all generally have a numismatic premium.
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