1854 Medal Commodore M.C.Perry Japan Trade Agreement Silver

Coin Details

Auction Record

$10,800 SP62 10-09-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1854 silver medal commemorates Commodore Perry's Japan Trade Agreement, the premium version alongside the bronze (PCGS #767809). Silver reflects the importance of the event — opening Japan to Western trade was viewed as a supreme diplomatic achievement. The Convention of Kanagawa, signed March 31, 1854, granted American ships access to two Japanese ports. Medal collecting has experienced renewed interest in recent decades as numismatists have recognized these pieces as historical artifacts deserving the same scholarly attention given to coins and currency. The digital documentation of medal collections through high-resolution photography and online databases has expanded research capabilities and made attribution resources available to a broader audience of collectors and scholars. The treaty set in motion Japan's transformation from feudal society into a modern industrial and military power with consequences reverberating through the twentieth century.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Perry Japan medal, silver. Premium diplomatic commemorative.

Cross References

PCGS #766233; Commodore Perry; Japan Trade Agreement; Convention of Kanagawa; Silver; 1854