| Value | 100,000 Japanese yen |
|---|---|
| Mass | 20 - 30 g |
| Diameter | 30 - 33 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Composition | .999 Gold [1] |
| Years of minting | 1986–1987 1990 |
| Catalog number | - |
| Obverse | |
| Reverse | |
The 100,000 yen coin is a denomination of the Japanese yen. Only two different types of coins have ever been struck in this denomination, which is only used for the minting of commemorative coins struck by the Japan Mint. Proof coinage and uncirculated examples were made for collectors, none were ever intended or released for circulation.
The 100,000 yen coin is the highest non circulating denomination ever issued by the Japan Mint. Only two different types of coins have ever been struck in this denomination. The issues include celebratory events such as Hirohito's 60th year of reign from 1986 to 1987, and the enthronement of Emperor Akihito in 1990.
| Emperor | Japanese date | Gregorian date | Mintage [lower-alpha 1] | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shōwa | 六十一 (61) | 1986 | 10,000,000 [2] | Hirohito's 60th year of reign [1] |
| Shōwa | 六十二 (62) | 1987 | 875,487 [2] | Hirohito's 60th year of reign [1] |
| Akihito | 二 (2) | 1990 | 1,900,000 [3] | Enthronement of Emperor Akihito |
The 5-yen coin is a denomination of the Japanese yen. The current design was first minted in 1959, using Japanese characters known as the "new script" and kanji in the kaisho style, and were also minted from 1948 to 1958 using "old-script" Japanese characters in the gothic style. Five-yen coins date to 1870. The modern-day coin was first produced in 1948 with a differently styled inscription. This was changed in 1959 and the design has remained unchanged since.
The 10 yen coin is one denomination of the Japanese yen.
The 500 yen coin is the largest denomination of Japanese yen coin issued for circulation. These coins were first struck in 1982 as the vending machine industry needed a higher valued coin for use in their machines. The denomination had previously been issued as paper currency which co-circulated with the new coins until 1994. Originally the 500 yen coin was made up of cupronickel, but was later changed to nickel brass, and then to bi-metallic to deter counterfeiting. This illegal practice has been a constant issue since the coin was first released due to its high purchase value. With a history spanning 3 imperial eras, 500 yen coins are also collectibles.
The 1-yen coin is the smallest denomination of the Japanese yen currency. Historically they were initially made of both silver and gold in the early 1870s. Issues facing the Japanese government at the time included wanting to adopt the gold standard, and competing against the Mexican dollar for use in foreign trade. The decision was made to use silver one yen coins exclusively outside of Japan for trade, while gold coins were minted and used in mainland Japan. Gold and silver coins were eventually allowed to co-circulate in mainland Japan from 1878 to 1897 when they were demonetized. Millions of former one yen silver coins were countermarked by the Japanese government for use outside of the mainland. Silver one yen coins continued to be minted until 1914 for backing up currency.
The 100 yen coin is a denomination of Japanese yen. These coins were first minted in 1957 using a silver alloy, before the current design was adopted with an alloy change in 1967. It is the second-highest denomination coin in Japan, after the 500 yen coin. The current 100 yen coin is one of two denominations that depict the emperor's rule date in Arabic numerals rather than kanji.
The 10,000 yen coin is a denomination of the Japanese yen, and is only used for the issue of commemorative coins struck by the Japan Mint. 10,000 yen coins were first issued in the mid/late 1980s in silver but were later switched to gold. These non consecutive commemorative gold coins have been released ever since to collectors.
The 50 sen coin (五十銭硬貨) was a Japanese coin worth half of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen. These coins circulated from the late 19th century to the early 1950s, when Japan adopted a single currency unit and this coin was demonetized.
The 10 sen coin (十銭硬貨) was a Japanese coin worth one tenth of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen. These coins were minted from the late 19th century up until the end of World War II.
The 20 sen coin (二十銭銀貨) was a Japanese coin worth one fifth of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen. These coins were all minted in silver during the Meiji era from 1870 to 1911.
The half sen coin (半銭) was a Japanese coin worth one two-hundredth of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen. All half sen coins were minted during the Meiji period between 1873 and 1888, and are made from nearly pure copper. These coins were later replaced for a brief time by another coin with the same value in the 1910s. The half sen coin was demonetized at the end of 1953 along with other subsidiary coinage and is no longer legal tender. They are now readily available for collectors to own as coins from this denomination were minted in large quantities.
The one rin coin (一厘銅貨) was a Japanese coin worth one one-thousandth of a Japanese yen, as 10 rin equalled 1 sen, and 100 sen equaled 1 yen. The coins are no longer in circulation, but they are bought and sold both by professional numismatists and by amateur coin collectors.
The 20 yen coin (二十圓硬貨) was a denomination of Japanese yen. These coins were minted in gold, and during their lifespan were the highest denomination of coin that circulated in the country. The first coins were minted in 1870 following the introduction of a decimal currency system. Twenty Yen coins spanned three different Imperial eras before mintage was halted in 1932. Many of these coins were then melted or destroyed as a result of the wars between 1931 and 1945. These coins are now collected by numismatists for academic study, and by those with a hobby.
The 50,000 yen coin is a denomination of the Japanese yen. Only one coin was ever issued for this denomination which commemorated the wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito to Masako. These coins did not circulate, and were made in uncirculated and proof coinage format for collectors by the Japan Mint.
The 5,000 yen coin is a denomination of the Japanese yen used only for commemoratives struck by the Japan Mint. These are made only for collectors who purchase them directly from the mint at a premium. 5000 yen commemorative coins have historically been struck in a silver alloy since 1990. This practice changed in 2021 when gold was used for the first time for a coin celebrating 150 years of Japan's modern currency system. Measurements for the coins in terms of width and weight have remained the same except for the gold issue when these were lowered. Earlier coins were also once struck in the millions before the alloy change took place.
The 5 sen coin (五銭硬貨) was a Japanese coin worth one twentieth of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen. These coins were minted from the late 19th century until the end of World War II. Like the other denominations of sen, these coins were eventually taken out of circulation at the end of 1953. While not in circulation any more, these coins are bought and sold by numismatists for academic study, and by those with a hobby.
The one sen coin (一銭) was a Japanese coin worth one-hundredth of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen. One sen coins were first struck for circulation during the 6th year of Meiji's reign (1873) using a dragon design. The denomination had been adopted in 1871 but coinage at the time could not be carried out. Aside from an alloy change and a new rice stalk wreath design, one sen coins remained the same weight and size for the remainder of the era. The situation changed when World War I broke out under Emperor Taishō as rising metal costs led to a size and weight reduction. These smaller coins were first produced in 1916 with a paulownia design which was seen as liberal at the time. Emperor Shōwa took the throne in 1926, and Japan was pushed into a militaristic regime by the early 1930s causing metals to be set aside for wartime conditions. These effects would later impact one sen coins through numerous alloy, size, and design changes.
The 2 yen coin (二圓金貨) was a short lived denomination of Japanese yen. During the first year of mintage in 1870, hundreds of thousands of these new coins were struck. These figures dropped off sharply as the Japanese government looked towards silver as a trading commodity. The supply of gold bullion had also dwindled causing the demand for these coins to outpace the supply available. The public hoarded two yen coins along with other denominations of gold causing them not to circulate during the mid 1870s. Japan eventually obtained a supply of gold bullion towards the end of the century, but this came too late for the two yen coin which was last minted in 1892. Almost one hundred years later the two yen coin was officially demonetized. While not in circulation any more, these coins are bought and sold by numismatics for academic study, and by those with a hobby.
The 2 sen coin (二銭硬貨) was a Japanese coin worth one-fiftieth of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen. Two sen coins were minted during the Meiji period, and are made from nearly pure copper. Priority was initially given to silver coins when the new yen currency system was adopted in 1871 as copper coins could not be produced yet. Aside from a design change and a two year lapse, two sen coins were made from 1873 to 1884. The two sen coin was then discontinued and eventually demonetized in the mid-20th century. These coins are now sought after as collectors items which bring premium amounts depending on the date and condition.
The 500 yen coin is a denomination of the Japanese yen. In addition to being used as circulating currency, this denomination has also been used to make commemorative coins struck by the Japan Mint. These coins are intended for collectors only and were never issued for circulation.
Japanese currency (1870–present) | |||||||
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| Circulating currency |
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| Historical coinage |
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| Historical banknotes |
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| Commemoratives | |||||||
