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
RECTANGULAR SILVER COIN
OF THE SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
This unusual rectangular silver 1 Bu
(Ichibu Gin) coins was one of the
last coins issued by the famous and once powerful Shoguns of Japan. The
Shoguns were the military rulers of Japan, who for hundreds of years
controlled the island nation. They were finally forced from
power in 1867 due to the pressures of modernization brought about by
the United States. Their militaristic influence continued
however, leading to World War II. This silver 1 Bu was minted
from 1837 until 1868. It is approximately 24mm x 16mm and includes an
official countermark on the reverse. It is one of the few
rectangular coins ever used by any nation in general circulation.
Item
JP-C16 JAPAN SILVER 1 BU (1837-68)
VF-XF $49.75
LAST BRONZE JAPANESE 1 SEN
FORSHADOWS UPCOMING WAR
In
1938 Japan intoduced a new design for their bronze 1 Sen coin.
The obverse features the mythological crow called Yatagarasu, which
sybolizes a devine intervention into human affairs. The other
side features the Imperial Chrysanthemum seal, which signifies the
Emperor at the top. The denomination is in the middle. At
the bottom is the Paulownia Flower, which is the seal of the civilian
government of Japan. The new coin replaced the previous 1 Sen
which featured only the Paulownia Flower. The coin is dated in the 13th
year of Emperor Hirohito's reign (Showa Era year 13). When the
coin was issued Japan had already invaded China and was gearing up for
more war. Because copper was an important war material, the new
bronze coin had less copper than the previous issues. The
23mm bronze coin was struck for less than a year before it was replaced
with an aluminum coin. The historic, old coin is in Uncirculated
condition, though may show a bit of toning.
Item
JP-1SEN-38 JAPAN BRONZE 1 SEN 1938, Y55
UNC. $5.00
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
CELEBRATES EXPO '70
Japan
issued this copper-nickel 100 Yen coin to commemorate Expo '70, held in
Osaka. It was the first World's Fair held in Japan.
Seventy seven nations participated in the event and over 64
million people attended the six month event. It set a record
for the most visitors until the 2010 Shanghai Expo. The
attractive 28mm coin features Mount Fuji on one side and the Expo logo
on the other. The coin is dated the 45th year of the Showa
Era (reign of Emperor Hirohito), which corresonds to 1970.
Item
JP-EXPO70 JAPAN 100 YEN EXPO '70 Y83 UNC. $4.00
COMPLETE SET OF JAPAN 2020 TOKYO
OLYMPICS 100 YEN COINS
In 2017 Japan started a four-year, 20-coin, series of circulating 100
Yen
commemorating the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
Due to COVID-19, the games were not held in 2020.
The games are now scheduled for to starting July 2021, but due to
continuing concerns about COVID-19, even that may not happen..
The reverses of the coins feature the words "TOKYO 2020" and the
Olympic and Tokyo Olympics emblems or the Paralympic and Tokyo
Paralympic emblems. The obverses depict 18 different Olympic and
Paralympic sports, plus the two mascots for the games.
Depicted are some of the non-traditional sports, including skate
boarding, sport climbing, surfing, Paralympic Boccia and Wheelchair
Rugby. The copper-nickel coins are 22.6mm in diameter.
It is a fascinating set of host country
Olympic coins for games that were not held.
Item
JP-100Y-OLY20 COMPLETE SET OF 20 JAPAN 2020 OLYMPICS 100 YEN, UNC. $99.75
Also see:
JAPAN SILVER 1000 YEN 1964 OLYMPIC COIN
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. The
50 Sen note depicts a dragon on the front and inscriptions on the back.
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
Item
PM-CN-10Y-OVPT2 10 YEN JAPANESE MILITARY
NOTE FOR
CHINA ON MODIFIED JAPANESE NOTE PM27 F
$5.00
Item
PM-CN-50S 50 SEN JAPANESE IMPERIAL NOTE FOR
CHINA PM14 VG
$3.00
JAPANESE INVASION OF
THE UNITED STATES?
When these notes issued by Japan started showing up during
World War II, many people took it as proof that Japan was about to
conquer the United States and had already printed new currency for the
United States. After all, the notes were clearly denominated in Dollar
or Cents and had the words "THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT" in large
letters. The story was repeated so many times that many
believed
it must be true. Though the Japanese government did print the
notes, however they were for use in Malay, which Japan conquered by
early 1942, and not the United States. Like the
United
States, Malaya used dollars and cents. The Uncirculated 10
Dollar notes pictures features bananas, breadfruit and coconuts on the
front and palm trees and a ship steaming in the horizon on the
back. These are historic collector’s items
recalling
Japan’s unsuccessful attempt to extend her empire across Asia in World
War II
Item
PM-MALAYA10 MALAYA 10 DOLLARS
JAPANESE INVASION NOTE, PM7c UNC.
$3.00
Item
PM-MALAYA10x10 10 PIECES OF MALAYA 10 DOLLARS
JAPANESE INVASION NOTE, PM7c AU-UNC. $18.00
Item
PM-MALAYA10x100 100 PIECES OF MALAYA 10
DOLLARS
JAPANESE INVASION NOTE, PM7c AU-UNC. $95.00
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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 unusual rectangular silver 1 Bu
(Ichibu Gin) coins was one of the
last coins issued by the famous and once powerful Shoguns of Japan. The
Shoguns were the military rulers of Japan, who for hundreds of years
controlled the island nation. They were finally forced from
power in 1867 due to the pressures of modernization brought about by
the United States. Their militaristic influence continued
however, leading to World War II. This silver 1 Bu was minted
from 1837 until 1868. It is approximately 24mm x 16mm and includes an
official countermark on the reverse. It is one of the few
rectangular coins ever used by any nation in general circulation. 
In
1938 Japan intoduced a new design for their bronze 1 Sen coin.
The obverse features the mythological crow called Yatagarasu, which
sybolizes a devine intervention into human affairs. The other
side features the Imperial Chrysanthemum seal, which signifies the
Emperor at the top. The denomination is in the middle. At
the bottom is the Paulownia Flower, which is the seal of the civilian
government of Japan. The new coin replaced the previous 1 Sen
which featured only the Paulownia Flower. The coin is dated in the 13th
year of Emperor Hirohito's reign (Showa Era year 13). When the
coin was issued Japan had already invaded China and was gearing up for
more war. Because copper was an important war material, the new
bronze coin had less copper than the previous issues. The
23mm bronze coin was struck for less than a year before it was replaced
with an aluminum coin. The historic, old coin is in Uncirculated
condition, though may show a bit of toning.
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.
Japan
issued this copper-nickel 100 Yen coin to commemorate Expo '70, held in
Osaka. It was the first World's Fair held in Japan.
Seventy seven nations participated in the event and over 64
million people attended the six month event. It set a record
for the most visitors until the 2010 Shanghai Expo. The
attractive 28mm coin features Mount Fuji on one side and the Expo logo
on the other. The coin is dated the 45th year of the Showa
Era (reign of Emperor Hirohito), which corresonds to 1970.
