I see on eBay that the 2019 Japan proof sets are going for around $400, does anyone know what the original issue price was in U.S. dollars?
I get irked when Japan gets abbreviated as edited. There is a reason why history lessons exist. The 2019 proof mint set price was jacked up as this is the last year of Heisei. Believe usual mint price is around 100 - 150 USD mark.
This is not only the final year of Heisei, it's the transition year for Reiwa, the new era. My guess is that when the Reiwa coins come out, they will sell for even more. Historically, Japan has issued coins in a transition year for both emperors, so there should be both Heisei 31（平成三一年) sets and Reiwa 1 (令和元年) sets. I guess we'll see if this tradition continues. The last time a switch happened was 1989. The prices should settle down in time, hopefully.
You have to patient with the pricing on Japanese proof sets. Many dealers try and sell them for well in excess of $100 or more for the most recent sets (2010 to date). I have been successful purchasing all my sets from mostly Japanese eBay dealers at more modest prices.
Heisei 31 proof sets are selling for between $100-160 in Japan right now. Mint sets can be found for about $25 or so over there. The Reiwa 1 sets (proof and mint) will be pricey for a while because of the new reign.
I was in Japan when the announcement of the new era (Reiwa) occurred. The TV news carried pictures and interviews of the long lines of people wanting to buy the Un-circulated sets of the last Heiwa issues. I asked several local dealers if they had the sets before leaving. None did. A friend of mine who recently visited Japan also looked for both the mint and un-circulated sets at his favorite dealers. No joy. Instead he bought the new 500 yen Reiwa Enthronement coin at a reasonable price from a dealer. It is a cupro-nickel coin. To the best of my knowledge it does not yet have a Krause # nor a JDNA designation. If you want the gold Reiwa issues that are forthcoming you must register your interest with the Japanese mint by the end of July. Here is some further information in English: https://news.coinupdate.com/japan-g...aruhito-announced-by-the-ministry-of-finance/ Good luck - Ganbatte as the Japanese would say.
