Gold Ounce 2023 Modern Japanese Trade Dollar, Coin from Saint Helena - detailed information

Saint Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean which is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The currency of the island is the Saint Helena pound, fixed at parity with the pound sterling. The island has authorised some private mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the popular gold ounce (1 oz gold) format, denominated as £5.

The 2023 1 oz St Helena Modern Japanese Trade Dollar Gold Coin is part of a range dedicated to "trade dollars" and is an artist's impression of what a modern Japanese trade dollar would look like.

The Mint says about this coin:
The Modern Trade Dollar series will feature innovative reinterpretations of the classic trade dollars which were the global currencies that simplified international trade in the era before the idea of globalisation was commonplace.

The first Japanese Trade Dollar was issued in 1874, helping Japan trade in the lucrative Chinese markets after the end of the Shogun Era in 1867 brought a close to more than 250 years of cultural and economic isolation. Up until this point the Emperor was Emperor in name only but, with the Shogun Era over, the 15-year-old Emperor Meiji ascended to the Chrysanthemum throne in 1868 and Imperial Rule was re-established. Japan then surged ahead with plans to modernise its economy and rebuild its trading and diplomatic links with foreign nations. Just as the British Empire and economy had grown rapidly during the Victorian Era, the Meiji Era became a key chapter in the story of Japan’s rise as an economic world power, including the brief experiment with Japanese Trade Dollars between 1874 and 1877.