Japan old coins catalog

 

Previous - coins of Tokugawa shogunate

Empire of Japan (since 1868)

Mutsuhito - Meiji period 明治 (1868-1912)

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

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
reduced size
1 YEN / wreath of flowers, chrysanthemum flower on top
GREAT JAPAN / 416 ONE YEN 900 TAISHO 3 YEAR / dragon within beaded circle
Y#38
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
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
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
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 SENTAISHO FIRST YEAR / sunburst within cherry blossom circle
Y#36.1
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
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
Value - ~1 USD

 

 

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
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
Value - ~1 USD

 

 

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
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
Value - ~1 USD

 

 

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
Value - 3-4 USD

 

 

Hirohito - Shōwa period  昭和 (1926-1989)

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
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
Value - ~1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

 

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
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
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
Value - ~1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

 

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
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
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
Value - ~1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

 

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
Value - ~1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

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
Value - <1 USD

 

Next - Japanese modern coin coins

 

 

 

 

Coins of Japan old in the catalog are presented divided by historical periods, indicating the main characteristics and differences by type.
Inside the sections, the coins are sorted by denomination - from large to small.
The cost of the coin is approximate and is indicated specifically for the coin shown in the picture. You can use this price to evaluate similar coins (of the same type), but remember that the value is affected by many factors, such as the state of preservation and the date of minting. The cost of coins of the same type can vary greatly depending on the number of surviving copies.
Coins of Japan old presented on this page are not sold or bought - this is only a catalog.