JAPANESE COINS & CURRENCY
COPPER 1 MON COIN OF
THE
SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
In
1668 the Shoguns of Japan introduced a new variety of the copper 1 Mon
coin which featured the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse,
indicating the coin was made at the Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The obverse
has the characters Kan Ei Tsu Ho, which some translate as "precious
currency of the era of perpetual leniency". It was rumored that the
coins were made from copper salvaged from a melted statue Buddhist
statue that contained gold, which made the coins especially desireable.
Due to the special source of metal in these coins was also
reputed to prevent the ill effects of tobacco when a pipe could be cast
from them. The coin continued to be made until 1700 and
remained
in circulation until 1873. It is a notable and inexpensive
coin
of the Shoguns of Japan
Item
JP-EDO JAPAN 1 MON EDO (TOKYO)
MINTMARK (1668-1700) C1.2
VF $3.00
INEXPENSIVE OLD GOLD
COIN OF THE SHOGUNS OF JAPAN 
The Gold 2 Shu (Nishu) was minted from 1860 until 1869. It was one of
the last coins issued by the once powerful Shoguns who ruled Japan
until 1867. The rectangular coin is
approximately 11.5mm x 6.5mm and struck in an alloy of 23% gold, 77%
silver. Despite being over 150 years old it is one of the
least expensive gold coins available
to collectors today.
Item
JP-AU2SHU JAPAN GOLD 2 SHU
(1860-69) XF $79.95
COINS OF OCCUPIED
JAPAN
This
set includes two of the first coins Japan issued following its defeat
in World War II, while it was under American occupation. They were some
of the first Japanese coins to feature the denomination in western
numerals. Both coins feature cherry blossoms, which signifies renewal,
and the Imperial Chrysanthemum Seal representing the Emperor. The
aluminum 10 Sen was minted only in 1945 and 1946, before it was
discontinued due to inflation. One side features rice stalks and the
denomination in Japanese. The other side depicts a cherry
blossom and
the denomination in western numerals. The brass 50 Sen was
struck only
in 1947 and 1948, before it too was discontinued due to a lack of
buying power. The obverse features the denomination in
Japanese within
a wreath of cherry blossoms and the denomination in Japanese. The
denomination in western numerals is on the reverse.
Item
JP-POSTWAR2 JAPAN 10 & 50 SEN 1945-48
Y68 & Y69 UNC.
$3.00
JAPAN
SILVER 1000 YEN 1964 OLYMPIC COIN
Mount Fuji is featured on this
attractive 1964 silver 1000 Yen coin. The coin was issued to
commemorate the Olympic Games that were held in Tokyo that
year. The reverse includes the denomination and the Olympic
rings flanked by cherry blossoms. The coin is dated Year 39 of the
Showa era, which corresponds to 1964. With the Olympics
returning to Tokyo, hopefully in 2021, it is expected that there will
be an increased demand for this beautiful coin. The 35mm coin contains
.5948 troy ounces of silver.
Item
JP-1000Y-64 JAPAN 1000 YEN 1964 OLYMPICS Y80
UNC $39.75
JAPAN MULTI-COLORED SILVER EARTHQUAKE
RELIEF COINS
Japan issued these two multi-colored silver 1000 Yen coins in 2015 to
help raise funds for the rebuilding effort after the Great East Japan
Earthquake, also called the Tohoku Earthquake which occurred March 3,
2011. The magnitude 9.1 earthquake was the largest ever
recorded in Japan. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami
waves that may have reached heights over 130 feet (40.5m), traveled up
to 6 miles (10km.) inland and led to the meltdown of the Fukushima
Nuclear Power Plant. As of 2015, when the coins
were issued, almost a quarter of a million people were still displaced
from their homes. The first coin depicts a fishing boat with
numerous flags and banners coming to the rescue. Ears of rice
are to the left It has a mintage of 60,000. The
second coin features an origami paper crane flying over the
reconstruction zone. It has a mintage of only
40,000. Both coins have the same reverse depicting a tree and
birds in flight. The legend translates as "Let's do our best
Japan". The coins are dated Heisei ear year 27, which
corresponds to 2015AD. They are 40mm and contain 1 troy ounce
of .999 silver and come in their original boxes with Certificates of
Authenticity.
Item
JP-BOAT JAPAN 1000 YEN 2015 BOAT Y242 PROOF $75.00
Item
JP-CRANE JAPAN 1000 YEN 2015 CRANE Y243 PROOF $75.00
UNUSUAL FIBER
COINS FROM WWII JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF CHINA
Manchukuo was a Japanese puppet state carved out of Northeastern China
prior to World War II. Due to a severe metal shortage towards
the end of the war, it issued these unusual 1 Fen and 5 Fen coins
struck in a thick, red material rather than metal. The coins are dated
in the year of the reign of Emperor Kang Te of
Manchukuo. Kang Te was formerly known as Pu Yi, who
was the last Emperor of China until he was deposed in 1911. The
Japanese used him as the figurehead leader for Manchukuo. The
1 Fen struck only a single year; 1945. The 5 Fen was struck
in 1944 and 1945. Because the material used was relitively soft, the
coins show considerable wear. These historic World War II coins are
some of the few circulating non-metallic coins of the 20th century.
Item
MAN-1F MANCHUKUO 1 FEN 1945 Y13a
G-VG 7.00
Item
MAN-5F MANCHUKUO 5 FEN 1944-45 YA13a
G-VG $7.00
JAPANESE
MILITARY CURRENCY
FOR CHINA
Japan issued Military Currency starting in 1938 for use in
the areas of China that they occupied. Because civilians were forced to
accept the Military Yen, which was not backed and could not be
exchanged into Japanese Yen, it cost the Japanese government virtually
nothing to purchase whatever they wanted. The initial issues of
Military currency were created by overprinting Japanese homeland notes
by putting a red line through the "Bank of Japan Convertible Silver
Note" at the front, another line through the Bank of Japan seal on the
back putting four large "Military Note" characters on both
sides. The next issue used modified homeland notes that did
not have the the Bank of Japan inscriptions or seals. Later
notes were issued for China with the inscription Imperial Japanese
Government without the Military note overprint.
Item
PM-CN-5Y-OVPT1 5 YEN JAPANESE MILITARY NOTE
FOR
CHINA ON BANK OF JAPAN NOTE PM24 F
$6.00
Item
PM-CN-5Y-OVPT2 5 YEN JAPANESE MILITARY NOTE
FOR
CHINA ON MODIFIED JAPANESE NOTE PM25 F
$3.00
JAPANESE
INVASION MONEY
As Japanese forces conquered Burma, Malaya and the
Philippines in World War II they introduced their own
currency. Anyone found with any other type of currency was
subject to severe punishment. As English was the official
language of these three colonies, the notes were printed in English and
were denominated in the currency that had been in
circulation. The notes were only labeled “THE JAPANESE
GOVERNMENT” without mentioning the colony. The red 10 Rupee
note for Burma depict the Ananda Temple in Bagan. The dark
blue and yellow 10 Dollar note for Malaya bananas, breadfruit and
coconuts and a ship steaming in the horizon on the
back. The black and light blue Philippine 10 Pesos
note depicts a banana plantation.
Item
PM-JIM3 JAPANESE INVASION MONEY: BURMA 10
RUPEE, MALAYA $10 &
PHILIPPINES 10 PESOS VF-AU
$4.00
Item
PM-JIM3x10 10 SETS OF THE ABOVE THREE JAPANESE INVASION MONEY VF-AU
$22.50
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In
1668 the Shoguns of Japan introduced a new variety of the copper 1 Mon
coin which featured the Japanese character "bun" on the reverse,
indicating the coin was made at the Edo (now Tokyo) mint. The obverse
has the characters Kan Ei Tsu Ho, which some translate as "precious
currency of the era of perpetual leniency". It was rumored that the
coins were made from copper salvaged from a melted statue Buddhist
statue that contained gold, which made the coins especially desireable.
Due to the special source of metal in these coins was also
reputed to prevent the ill effects of tobacco when a pipe could be cast
from them. The coin continued to be made until 1700 and
remained
in circulation until 1873. It is a notable and inexpensive
coin
of the Shoguns of Japan
This
set includes two of the first coins Japan issued following its defeat
in World War II, while it was under American occupation. They were some
of the first Japanese coins to feature the denomination in western
numerals. Both coins feature cherry blossoms, which signifies renewal,
and the Imperial Chrysanthemum Seal representing the Emperor. The
aluminum 10 Sen was minted only in 1945 and 1946, before it was
discontinued due to inflation. One side features rice stalks and the
denomination in Japanese. The other side depicts a cherry
blossom and
the denomination in western numerals. The brass 50 Sen was
struck only
in 1947 and 1948, before it too was discontinued due to a lack of
buying power. The obverse features the denomination in
Japanese within
a wreath of cherry blossoms and the denomination in Japanese. The
denomination in western numerals is on the reverse.
Mount Fuji is featured on this
attractive 1964 silver 1000 Yen coin. The coin was issued to
commemorate the Olympic Games that were held in Tokyo that
year. The reverse includes the denomination and the Olympic
rings flanked by cherry blossoms. The coin is dated Year 39 of the
Showa era, which corresponds to 1964. With the Olympics
returning to Tokyo, hopefully in 2021, it is expected that there will
be an increased demand for this beautiful coin. The 35mm coin contains
.5948 troy ounces of silver.
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