Japanese Coins

IMAGES OF JAPANESE COINS

We are building a comprehensive listing of all (hopefully) Japanese coin types which have been in circulation since coinage was first used in the islands. We have created four sections:-

1. Imported Coinage

2. Provincial Coinage

3. Pre-Meiji coinage made in Japan

4. Modern Japanese coinage

This page shows the different types of coins issued by Japan since the Meiji restoration The table shows the Reign Periods from 1700-2000

This is not a list of coins for sale, it is for identification purposes only

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Reign Periods

Genroku
1688-1711

Shoutoku
1711-1716

Kyouhou
1716-1736

Genbun
1736-1741

Kanpou
1741-1744

Enkyou
1744-1748

Kanen
1748-1751

Houryaku
1751-1764

Meiwa
1764-1772

Anei
1772-1781

Tenmei
1781-1789

Kansei
1789-1801

Kyouwa
1801-1804

Bunka
1804-1818

Bunsei
1818-1830

Tempo
1830-1844

Kouka
1844-1848

Kaei
1848-1854

Ansei
1854-1860

Manen
1860-1861

Bunkyu
1861-1864

Genji
1864-1865

Keiou
1865-1868

Meiji
1868-1912

Taisho
1912-1926

Showa
1926-1989

Heisei
1989 on

Issued Value Metal Comments

Meiji 6-25 1 Rin Cu Meiji 6 (1873)

Taisho 5-8 5 Rin Br Taisho 7 (1918)

Meiji 6-10 ½ Sen Cu Meiji 9 - Dragon's body has square scales

Meiji 10-25 ½ Sen Cu Meiji 18 - Dragon's body has 'V' scales

Meiji 6-10 1 Sen Cu Meiji 7 (1874) Dragon's body has square scales

Meiji 13-25 1 Sen Cu Meiji 13 (1880) Dragon's body has 'V' scales

Meiji 31-35 1 Sen Br Meiji 34 (1901)

Taisho 2-4 1 Sen Br Taisho 4 (1915)

Taisho 5-13 1 Sen Br Taisho 7 (1918)

Showa 2-13 1 Sen Br Showa 13 (1938) Value in circle

Showa 13 1 Sen Br (1938) value in octagon

Showa 13-15 1 Sen Al Showa 15 (1940) (Smaller/Aluminium/Value in octagon)

Showa 16-18 1 Sen Al Showa 18 (1943)

Showa 19-20 1 Sen Zn Showa 19 (1944)

not dated 1 Sen Clay (1945)Red/Brown Baked clay

Meiji 6-10 2 Sen Br Meiji 8 - with square scales

Meiji10-17 2 Sen Br Meiji 14 1881 - with 'V' scales

Meiji 3-4 5 Sen Ar Meiji 4 (1871)-Sunburst & dragon (needs better copy)

Meiji 4 5 Sen Ar Meiji 4 (1871) - sunburst - 66 rays

Meiji 4 5 Sen Ar Meiji 4 (1871)- sunburst-53 rays (Needs better copy)

Meiji 6-13 5 Sen Ar Meiji 10 (1877)

Meiji 22-30 5 Sen CuNi Meiji 22 (1889)

Meiji 30-39 5 Sen CuNi Meiji 31 (1898)

T6-12 5 Sen CuNi - Taisho 9

S7 5 Sen CuNi -

S8-13 5 Sen Ni Showa 9 -

S13-15 5 Sen AlBr Showa 14

S15-16 5 Sen Al - 1.2 gms

S16-17 5 Sen Al Showa 17 (1942) - 1.0 gms

S18 5 Sen Al - 0.8 gms

S19 5 Sen Sn/Zn - (1944)

S20-21 5 Sen Sn Showa 20 (1945)

Showa 20 5 Sen Clay - Red/Brown baked clay

Meiji 3 10 Sen Ar (1870) needs better copy

Meiji 6-8 10 Sen Ar Meiji 7 (1874) - Characters connected

Meiji 6 & 8-39 10 Sen Ar Meiji 32 (1899) - Characters not connected

Meiji 40-45 10 Sen Ar Meiji 41 (1908)

Taisho-Gan 10 Sen Ar Taisho gan (1912)

Taisho 2-6 10 Sen Ar

Taisho 9-15 10 Sen CuNi Taisho 12 (1923)

Showa 2-7 10 Sen CuNi

Showa 8-12 10 Sen CuNi Showa 11

Showa 13-15 10 Sen AlBr Showa 14

Showa 15-16 10 Sen Al 1.5 gm

Showa 16-18 10 Sen Al Showa 17 (1942) 1.2 gm

Showa 18 10 Sen Al 1.0 gm

Showa 19 10 Sen SnZn

Showa 20 10 Sen Clay

Showa 20-21 10 Sen Al Showa 20 (1945)

Meiji 3-4 20 Sen Ar Meiji 3(1870)

Meiji 6-38 20 Sen Ar Meiji 28 (1895)

Meiji 39-44 20 Sen Ar Meiji 40 (1907)

Meiji 3-4 50 Sen Ar Meiji 3 (1870) - 33mm dia

Meiji 4 50 Sen Ar Meiji 4 (1871) - 30.5mm dia - Krause 4a.1

Meiji 4 50 Sen Ar Meiji 4 (1871) - 21mm dia - Krause 4a.2

Meiji 6-38 50 Sen Ar Meiji 18 (1885)

Meiji 39-45 50 Sen Ar Meiji 40 (1906)

Taisho-gan 50 Sen Ar (1912)

Taisho 2-6 50 Sen Ar Taisho 4 (1915)

Taisho 11-15 50 Sen Ar Taisho 13 (1924) Needs better copy)

Showa 3-13 50 Sen Ar Showa 10 (1935)

Showa 21-22 50 Sen Ae 23 mm dia

Showa 22-23 50 Sen Ae 18 mm dia

Meiji 1 1 Yen Ar Meiji 1(1868) - Issued before the coinage reform - take a look

Meiji 3 1 Yen Ar Meiji 3 (1870)

Meiji 4 1 Yen Au Meiji 4 (Gold) 'High dot' variety

Meiji 7-25 1 Yen Au

Meiji 7-20 1 Yen Ar Meiji 14 (1881) Standard size 38.6mm - with 'gin' mark

Meiji 19-45 1 Yen
Meiji 37 (1904) Reduced size 38.1mm

Meiji 7-30 1 Yen Ar Meiji 29 (1896) Osaka 'Gin' Mark - clockwise spiral on pearl

Meiji 7-30 1 Yen Ar Meiji 14 (1881) Tokyo 'Gin' Mark - clockwise spiral on pearl

Taisho 3 1 Yen
(1914)

Showa 23-25 1 Yen
Showa 24 (1949)

Showa 30-64 1 Yen
Showa 39 (1964)

n.d. 2 Yen
-

Meiji 4 5 Yen Au (1870)

Showa 23-23 5 Yen
no hole

Showa 24-33 5 Yen Ae Showa 27 (1952) with hole - Old Script

Showa 34-64 5 Yen Ae with hole - New Script

Meiji 4 10 Yen Au (1871)

Meiji 9-25 10 Yen Au Meiji 25 was minted for exhibition purpose only

Meiji 30-43 10 Yen Au Meiji 42 (1909)

Showa 25-26 10 Yen Ar

Showa 26-33 10 Yen Ae Showa 27 (1952) - Reeded Edge

Showa 34-45 10 Yen Br Showa 41 (1966) Plain Edge

Meiji 3-25 20 Yen Au -

Meiji 30-45 20 Yen Au -

Taisho gan-9 20 Yen Au -

Showa 5-7 20 Yen Au -

Showa 30-33 50 Yen Ni Showa 30 (1955)

Showa 34-41 50 Yen Ni Showa 34 (1959)

Showa 42-63 50 Yen CuNi Showa 42 (1967)

Heisei gan 50 Yen CuNi 1989

Heisei 2 - 50 Yen CuNi

Showa 32-33 100 Yen Ar Showa 33

Showa 34-41 100 Yen Ar Showa 35 (1960)

Showa 39 100 Yen Ar (1964)Olympic Games

Showa 42-63 100 Yen CuNi Showa 45 (1970)

Showa 45 100 Yen CuNi Osaka Expo 1970

Showa 57 500 Yen
(1989)Note! date character is 'gan' (1st) not 1

Heisei 2 500 Yen
(1990)Enthronement of Emperor Akihito

Heisei 4 500 Yen
(1992)Reversion of Okinawa

Heisei 5 500 Yen
(1993)Wedding of the Crown Prince

Showa 39 1000 Yen
(1964)Olympic Games

Heisei 2 5000 Yen
(1990)Osaka Expo

n.d. 10000 Yen
-

n.d. 50000 Yen
-

Showa 61-2 100000 Yen
- Image courtesy of Mr Roy C. Zukerman

Heisei 2 100000 Yen
-

Meiji 7 Trade Dollar Ar (1874) - Image courtesy of Mr Wade C. Wilson

Meiji 8-10 Trade Dollar Ar (1875)

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11:10 04/10/2009

Issued	Value	Metal	Comments
Meiji 6-25	1 Rin	Cu	Meiji 6 (1873)
Taisho 5-8	5 Rin	Br	Taisho 7 (1918)
Meiji 6-10	½ Sen	Cu	Meiji 9 - Dragon's body has square scales
Meiji 10-25	½ Sen	Cu	Meiji 18 - Dragon's body has 'V' scales
Meiji 6-10	1 Sen	Cu	Meiji 7 (1874) Dragon's body has square scales
Meiji 13-25	1 Sen	Cu	Meiji 13 (1880) Dragon's body has 'V' scales
Meiji 31-35	1 Sen	Br	Meiji 34 (1901)
Taisho 2-4	1 Sen	Br	Taisho 4 (1915)
Taisho 5-13	1 Sen	Br	Taisho 7 (1918)
Showa 2-13	1 Sen	Br	Showa 13 (1938) Value in circle
Showa 13	1 Sen	Br	(1938) value in octagon
Showa 13-15	1 Sen	Al	Showa 15 (1940) (Smaller/Aluminium/Value in octagon)
Showa 16-18	1 Sen	Al	Showa 18 (1943)
Showa 19-20	1 Sen	Zn	Showa 19 (1944)
not dated	1 Sen	Clay	(1945)Red/Brown Baked clay
Meiji 6-10	2 Sen	Br	Meiji 8 - with square scales
Meiji10-17	2 Sen	Br	Meiji 14 1881 - with 'V' scales
Meiji 3-4	5 Sen	Ar	Meiji 4 (1871)-Sunburst & dragon (needs better copy)
Meiji 4	5 Sen	Ar	Meiji 4 (1871) - sunburst - 66 rays
Meiji 4	5 Sen	Ar	Meiji 4 (1871)- sunburst-53 rays (Needs better copy)
Meiji 6-13	5 Sen	Ar	Meiji 10 (1877)
Meiji 22-30	5 Sen	CuNi	Meiji 22 (1889)
Meiji 30-39	5 Sen	CuNi	Meiji 31 (1898)
T6-12	5 Sen	CuNi	- Taisho 9
S7	5 Sen	CuNi	-
S8-13	5 Sen	Ni	Showa 9 -
S13-15	5 Sen	AlBr	Showa 14
S15-16	5 Sen	Al	- 1.2 gms
S16-17	5 Sen	Al	Showa 17 (1942) - 1.0 gms
S18	5 Sen	Al	- 0.8 gms
S19	5 Sen	Sn/Zn	- (1944)
S20-21	5 Sen	Sn	Showa 20 (1945)
Showa 20	5 Sen	Clay	- Red/Brown baked clay
Meiji 3	10 Sen	Ar	(1870) needs better copy
Meiji 6-8	10 Sen	Ar	Meiji 7 (1874) - Characters connected
Meiji 6 & 8-39	10 Sen	Ar	Meiji 32 (1899) - Characters not connected
Meiji 40-45	10 Sen	Ar	Meiji 41 (1908)
Taisho-Gan	10 Sen	Ar	Taisho gan (1912)
Taisho 2-6	10 Sen	Ar
Taisho 9-15	10 Sen	CuNi	Taisho 12 (1923)
Showa 2-7	10 Sen	CuNi
Showa 8-12	10 Sen	CuNi	Showa 11
Showa 13-15	10 Sen	AlBr	Showa 14
Showa 15-16	10 Sen	Al	1.5 gm
Showa 16-18	10 Sen	Al	Showa 17 (1942) 1.2 gm
Showa 18	10 Sen	Al	1.0 gm
Showa 19	10 Sen	SnZn
Showa 20	10 Sen	Clay
Showa 20-21	10 Sen	Al	Showa 20 (1945)
Meiji 3-4	20 Sen	Ar	Meiji 3(1870)
Meiji 6-38	20 Sen	Ar	Meiji 28 (1895)
Meiji 39-44	20 Sen	Ar	Meiji 40 (1907)
Meiji 3-4	50 Sen	Ar	Meiji 3 (1870) - 33mm dia
Meiji 4	50 Sen	Ar	Meiji 4 (1871) - 30.5mm dia - Krause 4a.1
Meiji 4	50 Sen	Ar	Meiji 4 (1871) - 21mm dia - Krause 4a.2
Meiji 6-38	50 Sen	Ar	Meiji 18 (1885)
Meiji 39-45	50 Sen	Ar	Meiji 40 (1906)
Taisho-gan	50 Sen	Ar	(1912)
Taisho 2-6	50 Sen	Ar	Taisho 4 (1915)
Taisho 11-15	50 Sen	Ar	Taisho 13 (1924) Needs better copy)
Showa 3-13	50 Sen	Ar	Showa 10 (1935)
Showa 21-22	50 Sen	Ae	23 mm dia
Showa 22-23	50 Sen	Ae	18 mm dia
Meiji 1	1 Yen	Ar	Meiji 1(1868) - Issued before the coinage reform - take a look
Meiji 3	1 Yen	Ar	Meiji 3 (1870)
Meiji 4	1 Yen	Au	Meiji 4 (Gold) 'High dot' variety
Meiji 7-25	1 Yen	Au
Meiji 7-20	1 Yen	Ar	Meiji 14 (1881) Standard size 38.6mm - with 'gin' mark
Meiji 19-45	1 Yen		Meiji 37 (1904) Reduced size 38.1mm
Meiji 7-30	1 Yen	Ar	Meiji 29 (1896) Osaka 'Gin' Mark - clockwise spiral on pearl
Meiji 7-30	1 Yen	Ar	Meiji 14 (1881) Tokyo 'Gin' Mark - clockwise spiral on pearl
Taisho 3	1 Yen		(1914)
Showa 23-25	1 Yen		Showa 24 (1949)
Showa 30-64	1 Yen		Showa 39 (1964)
n.d.	2 Yen		-
Meiji 4	5 Yen	Au	(1870)
Showa 23-23	5 Yen		no hole
Showa 24-33	5 Yen	Ae	Showa 27 (1952) with hole - Old Script
Showa 34-64	5 Yen	Ae	with hole - New Script
Meiji 4	10 Yen	Au	(1871)
Meiji 9-25	10 Yen	Au	Meiji 25 was minted for exhibition purpose only
Meiji 30-43	10 Yen	Au	Meiji 42 (1909)
Showa 25-26	10 Yen	Ar
Showa 26-33	10 Yen	Ae	Showa 27 (1952) - Reeded Edge
Showa 34-45	10 Yen	Br	Showa 41 (1966) Plain Edge
Meiji 3-25	20 Yen	Au	-
Meiji 30-45	20 Yen	Au	-
Taisho gan-9	20 Yen	Au	-
Showa 5-7	20 Yen	Au	-
Showa 30-33	50 Yen	Ni	Showa 30 (1955)
Showa 34-41	50 Yen	Ni	Showa 34 (1959)
Showa 42-63	50 Yen	CuNi	Showa 42 (1967)
Heisei gan	50 Yen	CuNi	1989
Heisei 2 -	50 Yen	CuNi
Showa 32-33	100 Yen	Ar	Showa 33
Showa 34-41	100 Yen	Ar	Showa 35 (1960)
Showa 39	100 Yen	Ar	(1964)Olympic Games
Showa 42-63	100 Yen	CuNi	Showa 45 (1970)
Showa 45	100 Yen	CuNi	Osaka Expo 1970
Showa 57	500 Yen		(1989)Note! date character is 'gan' (1st) not 1
Heisei 2	500 Yen		(1990)Enthronement of Emperor Akihito
Heisei 4	500 Yen		(1992)Reversion of Okinawa
Heisei 5	500 Yen		(1993)Wedding of the Crown Prince
Showa 39	1000 Yen		(1964)Olympic Games
Heisei 2	5000 Yen		(1990)Osaka Expo
n.d.	10000 Yen		-
n.d.	50000 Yen		-
Showa 61-2	100000 Yen		- Image courtesy of Mr Roy C. Zukerman
Heisei 2	100000 Yen		-
Meiji 7	Trade Dollar	Ar	(1874) - Image courtesy of Mr Wade C. Wilson
Meiji 8-10	Trade Dollar	Ar	(1875)