Japan 1883 5 Sen Gray-Blue, Koban Series

Japan · 1883 · 5 Sen

This stamp is part of the second regular issue of Japan, known as the Koban series, named after the oval gold coins of the Tokugawa era. The design features the denomination '5 SEN' within a central oval frame, surrounded by intricate engravings and topped with the Imperial Chrysanthemum Seal. The stamp is printed in a distinctive gray-blue color.

Issued during the Meiji period, the Koban series represented Japan's modernization of its postal system, adopting Western-style engraved printing techniques. These stamps were in use for over a decade and are fundamental to classic Japanese philately.