Japanese old coins - catalog with values

Empire of Japan (since 1868)

Reform 1870 - Decimal coinage
Yen=100 sen; Sen=10 rin (1870-1947)

Mutsuhito - Meiji period 明治 (1868-1912)

Trade dollar 1877 (1875-1877)
silver 0.900
Diameter 38.58 mm. Weight 27.22 g.
TRADE DOLLAR / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
MEIJI 10 YEAR GREAT JAPAN / 420 GRAINS. TRADE DOLLAR. 900 FINE / dragon within beaded circle
Y#14
Coin value ~ 1000-2000 USD

1 yen 1870
silver 0.900
Diameter 38.50 mm. Weight 26.96 g.
GREAT JAPAN / 1 YEN MEIJI 3 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Sunburst crest within beaded circle and wreath, chrysanthemum above
Y#5
Coin value ~ 500-600 USD

1 yen 1886 (1874-1887)
silver 0.900
Diameter 38.60 mm. Weight 26.96 g.
1 YEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 416 ONE YEN 900 MEIJI 19 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#A25.2
Coin value ~ 100-200 USD

1 yen 1891 (1886-1912)
silver 0.900
Diameter 38.10 mm. Weight 26.96 g.
reduced size
1 YEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 416 ONE YEN 900 MEIJI 24 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#A25.3
Coin value ~ 100-200 USD

50 sen 1870 (1870-1871)
silver 0.800
Diameter 31.50 mm. Weight 12.50 g.
21 mm. circle of dots around dragon
GREAT JAPAN / 50 SEN MEIJI 3 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Sunburst crest within beaded circle and wreath, chrysanthemum above
Y#4
Coin value ~ 40-60 USD

50 sen 1871
silver 0.800
Diameter 31.00 mm. Weight 12.50 g.
19 mm. circle of dots around dragon
GREAT JAPAN / 50 SEN MEIJI 4 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Sunburst crest within beaded circle and wreath, chrysanthemum above
Y#4a.1
Coin value ~ 100-150 USD

50 sen 1900 (1873-1905)
silver 0.800
Diameter 30.50 mm. Weight 13.48 g.
50 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 50 SEN MEIJI 30 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#25
Coin value ~ 25-35 USD

50 sen 1909 (1906-1912)
silver 0.800
Diameter 27.27 mm. Weight 10.10 g.
50 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 50 SEN MEIJI 42 YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#31
Coin value ~ 10-15 USD

20 sen 1870 (1870-1871)
silver 0.800
Diameter 24.00 mm. Weight 5.00 g.
GREAT JAPAN / 20 SEN MEIJI 3 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Sunburst crest within beaded circle and wreath, chrysanthemum above
Y#3
Coin value ~ 20-30 USD

20 sen 1897 (1873-1905)
silver 0.800
Diameter 23.50 mm. Weight 5.39 g.
20 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 20 SEN MEIJI 30 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#24
Coin value ~ 15-20 USD

20 sen 1910 (1906-1911)
silver 0.800
Diameter 20.30 mm. Weight 4.05 g.
20 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 20 SEN MEIJI 43 YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#30
Coin value ~ 8-10 USD

10 sen 1870
silver 0.800
Diameter 17.60 mm. Weight 2.50 g.
GREAT JAPAN / 10 SEN MEIJI 3 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Sunburst crest within beaded circle and wreath, chrysanthemum above
Y#2
Coin value ~ 30-40 USD

10 sen 1896 (1873-1906)
silver 0.800
Diameter 17.60 mm. Weight 2.70 g.
10 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 10 SEN MEIJI 29 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#23
Coin value ~ 10-12 USD

10 sen 1911 (1907-1912)
silver 0.720
Diameter 17.60 mm. Weight 2.25 g.
10 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 10 SEN MEIJI 44 YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#29
Coin value ~ 6-8 USD

5 sen 1870 (1870-1871)
silver 0.800
Diameter 16.20 mm. Weight 1.25 g.
GREAT JAPAN / 5 SEN MEIJI 3 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Sunburst crest within beaded circle and wreath, chrysanthemum above
Y#1
Coin value ~ 80-120 USD

5 sen 1871
silver 0.800
Diameter 16.20 mm. Weight 1.25 g.
5 SEN / GREAT JAPAN / MEIJI 4 YEAR
Sunburst crest within beaded circle and wreath, chrysanthemum above
Y#6.1
Coin value ~ 30-50 USD

5 sen 1875 (1873-1892)
silver 0.800
Diameter 15.20 mm. Weight 1.35 g.
5 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 5 SEN MEIJI 8 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#22
Coin value ~ 20-30 USD

5 sen 1890 (1889-1897)
copper-nickel
Diameter 20.60 mm. Weight 4.70 g.
5 / GREAT JAPAN / MEIJI 23 YEAR
5 SEN / 5 SEN / chrysanthemum crest (Imperial Seal)
Y#19
Coin value ~ 5-6 USD

5 sen 1905 (1897-1905)
copper-nickel
Diameter 20.60 mm. Weight 4.67 g.
5 SEN
GREAT JAPAN / 5 SEN MEIJI 38 YEAR / chrysanthemum crest (Imperial Seal)
Y#21
Coin value ~ 6-8 USD

2 sen 1876 (1873-1877)
bronze
Diameter 31.80 mm. Weight 14.30 g.
2 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 2 SEN MEIJI 9 YEAR / dragon with square scales within beaded circle
Y#18.1
Coin value ~ 4-5 USD

2 sen 1880 (1877-1892)
bronze
Diameter 31.80 mm. Weight 14.30 g.
2 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 2 SEN MEIJI 13 YEAR / dragon with V-scales within beaded circle
Y#18.2
Coin value ~ 3-4 USD

1 sen 1876 (1873-1877)
copper
Diameter 27.90 mm. Weight 7.13 g.
1 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 1 SEN MEIJI 9 YEAR / dragon with square scales within beaded circle
Y#17.1
Coin value ~ 3-4 USD

1 sen 1886 (1880-1892)
copper
Diameter 27.90 mm. Weight 7.13 g.
1 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 1 SEN MEIJI 19 YEAR / dragon with V-scales within beaded circle
Y#17.2
Coin value ~ 3-4 USD

1 sen 1901 (1898-1902)
bronze
Diameter 27.90 mm. Weight 7.13 g.
1 SEN / rice wreath
GREAT JAPAN / 1 SEN MEIJI 34 YEAR / sunburst within beaded circle
Y#20
Coin value ~ 8-12 USD

1/2 sen 1876 (1873-1877)
copper
Diameter 22.20 mm. Weight 3.56 g.
1/2 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 1/2 SEN MEIJI 9 YEAR / dragon with square scales within beaded circle
Y#16.1
Coin value ~ 4-6 USD

1/2 sen 1877 (1877-1892)
copper
Diameter 22.20 mm. Weight 3.56 g.
1/2 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 1/2 SEN MEIJI 10 YEAR / dragon with V-scales within beaded circle
Y#16.2
Coin value ~ 2-3 USD

1 rin 1874 (1873-1884)
copper
Diameter 15.75 mm. Weight 0.91 g.
1 RIN
GREAT JAPAN / 1 RIN MEIJI 7 YEAR / chrysanthemum flower
Y#15
Coin value ~ 10-15 USD

Yoshihito - Taishō period 大正 (1912-1926)

1 yen 1914
silver 0.900
Diameter 38.10 mm. Weight 26.96 g.
1 YEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 416 ONE YEN 900 TAISHO 3 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#38
Coin value ~ 100-150 USD

50 sen 1912
silver 0.800
Diameter 27.27 mm. Weight 10.13 g.
50 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 50 SEN TAISHO FIRST YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#37.1
Coin value ~ 20-30 USD

50 sen 1917 (1913-1917)
silver 0.800
Diameter 27.27 mm. Weight 10.13 g.
50 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 50 SEN TAISHO 6 YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#37.2
Coin value ~ 15-20 USD

50 sen 1924 (1922-1926)
silver 0.720
Diameter 23.80 mm. Weight 4.95 g.
50 SEN / two phoenix, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / TAISHO 13 YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#46
Coin value ~ 5-7 USD

10 sen 1912
silver 0.720
Diameter 17.60 mm. Weight 2.25 g.
10 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 10 SEN TAISHO FIRST YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#36.1
Coin value ~ 20-25 USD

10 sen 1917 (1913-1917)
silver 0.720
Diameter 17.60 mm. Weight 2.25 g.
10 SEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 10 SEN TAISHO 6 YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#36.2
Coin value ~ 6-8 USD

10 sen 1925 (1920-1926)
copper-nickel
Diameter 22.10 mm. Weight 3.75 g.
10 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / TAISHO 14 YEAR / sacred mirror around hole
Y#45
Coin value ~ US$1

5 sen 1919 (1917-1920)
copper-nickel
Diameter 20.60 mm. Weight 4.28 g.
5 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / TAISHO 8 YEAR / sacred mirror around hole
Y#43
Coin value ~ 10-20 USD

5 sen 1922 (1920-1923)
copper-nickel
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 2.63 g.
5 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / TAISHO 11 YEAR / sacred mirror around hole
Y#44
Coin value ~ US$1

1 sen 1914 (1913-1915)
bronze
Diameter 27.80 mm. Weight 7.13 g.
1 SEN / rice wreath
GREAT JAPAN / 1 SEN TAISHO 3 YEAR / sunburst within beaded circle
Y#35
Coin value ~ 7-10 USD

1 sen 1919 (1916-1924)
bronze
Diameter 23.00 mm. Weight 3.75 g.
1 SEN / flowers wreath
GREAT JAPAN / TAISHO 8 YEAR / paulownia crest flanked by cherry blossom
Y#42
Coin value ~ US$1

5 rin 1916 (1916-1919)
bronze
Diameter 18.80 mm. Weight 2.10 g.
5 RIN / flowers wreath
GREAT JAPAN / TAISHO 5 YEAR / paulownia crest flanked by cherry blossom
Y#41
Coin value ~ 3-4 USD

Hirohito - Shōwa period 昭和 (1926-1989) old type coinage (1926-1947)

50 sen 1929 (1928-1938)
silver 0.720
Diameter 23.80 mm. Weight 4.95 g.
50 SEN / two phoenix, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 4 YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#50
Coin value ~ 5-7 USD

50 sen 1946 (1946-1947)
brass
Diameter 23.50 mm. Weight 4.50 g.
50 SEN / JAPANESE GOVERNMENT / SHOWA 21 YEAR / stalks of wheat and
rice flanked by fish
50 SEN / phoenix, chrysanthemum flower on top
Y#67
Coin value ~ US$1

50 sen 1948 (1947-1948)
brass
Diameter 19.00 mm. Weight 2.80 g.
50 / STATE OF JAPAN / SHOWA 23 YEAR
50 SEN / cherry blossom wreath, chrysanthemum flower on top
Y#69
Coin value < US$1

10 sen 1932 (1927-1932)
copper-nickel
Diameter 22.17 mm. Weight 3.75 g.
10 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 7 YEAR / sacred mirror around hole
Y#49
Coin value ~ 2-3 USD

10 sen 1934 (1933-1937)
nickel
Diameter 22.00 mm. Weight 4.02 g.
10 SEN / paulownia on bottom, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 9 YEAR / cherry blossom
Y#54
Coin value ~ 2-3 USD

10 sen 1938 (1938-1940)
aluminium-bronze
Diameter 22.00 mm. Weight 4.00 g.
10 SEN / sun rays and waves, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 13 YEAR / paulownia crest and cherry blossom
Y#58
Coin value ~ US$1

10 sen 1940 (1940-1941)
aluminium
Diameter 22.00 mm. Weight 1.50 g.
10 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 15 YEAR / cherry blossom
Y#61.1
Coin value < US$1

10 sen 1942 (1941-1943)
aluminium
Diameter 22.00 mm. Weight 1.20 g.
10 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 17 YEAR / cherry blossom
Y#61.2
Coin value < US$1

10 sen 1943
aluminium
Diameter 22.00 mm. Weight 1.00 g.
10 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 18 YEAR / cherry blossom
Y#61.3
Coin value < US$1

10 sen 1944
tin-zinc
Diameter 19.00 mm. Weight 2.40 g.
10 SEN / paulownia on bottom, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 19 YEAR
Y#64
Coin value < US$1

10 sen 1945 (1945-1946)
aluminium
Diameter 22.00 mm. Weight 1.00 g.
10 / JAPANESE GOVERNMENT / SHOWA 20 YEAR / cherry blossom
10 SEN / two rice stalks, chrysanthemum flower on top
Y#68
Coin value < US$1

5 sen 1932
copper-nickel
Diameter 19.10 mm. Weight 2.63 g.
5 SEN / paulownia foliage, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 7 YEAR / sacred mirror around hole
Y#48
Coin value ~ 8-12 USD

5 sen 1934 (1933-1938)
nickel
Diameter 19.00 mm. Weight 2.80 g.
5 SEN / bird undo rays of sun, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 9 YEAR / cherry blossom
Y#53
Coin value ~ 3-4 USD

5 sen 1939 (1938-1940)
aluminium-bronze
Diameter 19.00 mm. Weight 2.80 g.
5 SEN / paulownia on bottom, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 13 YEAR / cherry blossom
Y#57
Coin value ~ US$1

5 sen 1941 (1940-1941)
aluminium
Diameter 19.00 mm. Weight 1.20 g.
5 SEN / chrysanthemum within clouds
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 16 YEAR / bird
Y#60
Coin value < US$1

5 sen 1942 (1941-1942)
aluminium
Diameter 19.00 mm. Weight 1.00 g.
5 SEN / chrysanthemum within clouds
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 17 YEAR / bird
Y#60a
Coin value < US$1

5 sen 1943
aluminium
Diameter 19.00 mm. Weight 0.80 g.
5 SEN / chrysanthemum within clouds
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 18 YEAR / bird
Y#60b
Coin value < US$1

5 sen 1944
tin-zinc
Diameter 17.00 mm. Weight 1.95 g.
5 SEN / paulownia on bottom, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 19 YEAR
Y#63
Coin value < US$1

5 sen 1946 (1945-1946)
tin-zinc
Diameter 17.00 mm. Weight 2.00 g.
5 / JAPANESE GOVERNMENT / SHOWA 21 YEAR / paulownia on both sides
5 SEN / bird, chrysanthemum flower on top
Y#65
Coin value < US$1

1 sen 1937 (1927-1938)
bronze
Diameter 23.00 mm. Weight 3.75 g.
1 SEN / flowers wreath
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 12 YEAR / paulownia crest flanked by cherry blossom
Y#47
Coin value ~ US$1

1 sen 1938
bronze
Diameter 23.00 mm. Weight 3.75 g.
1 SEN / sacred mirror within wave-like wreath, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 13 YEAR / bird within clouds flanked by cherry blossom
Y#55
Coin value < US$1

1 sen 1939 (1938-1940)
aluminium
Diameter 17.00 mm. Weight 0.90 g.
1 SEN / sacred mirror within wave-like wreath, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 14 YEAR / bird within clouds flanked by cherry blossom
Y#56
Coin value < US$1

1 sen 1941 (1941-1943)
aluminium
Diameter 16.00 mm. Weight 0.65 g.
1 / GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 16 YEAR
1 SEN / mount Fuji, chrysanthemum flower on top
Y#59
Coin value < US$1

1 sen 1943
aluminium
Diameter 16.00 mm. Weight 0.55 g.
1 / GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 18 YEAR
1 SEN / mount Fuji, chrysanthemum flower on top
Y#62a
Coin value < US$1

1 sen 1944 (1944-1945)
tin-zinc
Diameter 15.00 mm. Weight 1.30 g.
1 SEN / chrysanthemum flower
GREAT JAPAN / SHOWA 19 YEAR
Y#62
Coin value < US$1

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