AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a South Korean 100 won coin, featuring the portrait of Admiral Yi Sun-shin on its obverse side. The coin is circular with a reeded edge and is made of a cupronickel alloy, giving it a bright, silver-colored appearance. Admiral Yi Sun-shin is depicted in traditional Korean military attire, specifically a headdress, and is flanked by the Hangul characters '백원' (Baek-won), which denote its 100-unit denomination. The coin measures approximately 24mm in diameter and has a weight of 5.42 grams. The condition of the coin appears to be 'Extremely Fine' (XF) to 'About Uncirculated' (AU), showing minimal surface wear, light scuffing, and retaining a good degree of its original mint luster. There are no signs of heavy circulation, significant scratches, or corrosion. The striking of the details on Admiral Yi's face and his clothing remains sharp and clear. This specific design was first introduced in 1983 and remains a staple of South Korean currency. The reverse side (not shown) would typically feature the numerical value '100' and the year of minting. The craftsmanship is typical of high-quality modern industrial minting seen in South Korean currency production.

I have examined the digital representation of this South Korean 100 Won coin featuring Admiral Yi Sun-shin. The coin exhibits a pleasing 'Extremely Fine' to 'About Uncirculated' (XF-AU) grade, retaining much of its original mint luster with only minor surface bag marks and light scuffing consistent with careful handling or brief circulation. The strike is well-defined, particularly on the intricate detailing of the Admiral’s traditional military headdress and facial features. Since this cupronickel design has been produced in massive quantities since 1983, it remains common in the numismatic market. Its value is largely tied to its current exchange rate (approximately $0.07 USD) plus a small premium for collectors looking for higher-grade specimens as fillers for sets. Unless the reverse reveals a rare key date, such as 1981 (the low-mintage year for the previous series) or 1998 (limited mintage due to the IMF crisis), the market value remains nominal. Demand is steady among world coin enthusiasts but supply is abundant. My assessment is limited by the medium of photography; a definitive appraisal requires physical inspection to verify metallic composition, precise weight, and to rule out sophisticated contemporary counterfeits. In-person examination would also allow for a closer inspection of the reeded edge for signs of casting or tampering. For full authentication and possible higher valuation, I would recommend checking the specific year of minting on the reverse and comparing it against mintage figures from the Bank of Korea.