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List of Japanese coinage patterns
The following is a list of Japanese pattern coins from the yen based currency system started under the Meiji Restoration.[1] The first patterns of the yen based system were made from 1869 to 1870 as presentation pieces to the Emperor. The new currency system was eventually adopted by the Meiji government in an Act signed on June 27, 1871.[2] Pattern coins are almost never released into circulation as they are made for evaluation purposes only. Once a pattern is approved by government officials, it then goes to the minting process.[3] Most of the patterns listed below are very rare, and sell for considerable amounts at auctions. The market value and rarity of any given coin is dependent on supply and demand.
Selected terminology
The following terms appear on the list below:
Legend(s) – In numismatic terminology "legends" refer to inscriptions on any given coin. Common inscriptions for these coins include; "Great Japan" (Dai Nippon, 大日本), the reigning Emperor's name (ex: 明治 Meiji), the value of the coin, and the year of the Emperor's reign.
Obverse/Reverse – These refer to the front (o) and back (r) side of a coin.
Struck/Strike – This is part of the minting process.
Variety – Coins struck with minor changes to their initial design are called "varieties".
Meiji
- Note: Early Japanese coins are read clockwise from right to left, while modern coins are read counterclockwise from right to left.
Early proposals
| Denomination | Year of reign | Japanese date | Gregorian date | Name[a] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Fun | 2nd | 二 (undated) |
1869 (undated) |
KM-Pn2 | The obverse (front) side of this coin has two crossed Japanese flags on poles with Mount Fuji in the background, while the reverse (back) side shows the coin's value. This pattern was struck in copper, and holed in the center.[4] |
| 5 Fun | KM-Pn3 | Obverse has two crossed Japanese flags on poles with Mount Fuji in the background, while the reverse shows the coin's value. This pattern was struck in copper, and is holed in the center.[5] Only 2 coins have been certified as genuine by PCGS, while a 3rd resides in the Smithsonian Institution.[6][7] | |||
| 1 Momme | KM-Pn4 | Obverse has two crossed Japanese flags on poles with Mount Fuji in the background, while the reverse shows the coin's value. This pattern was struck in copper, and is holed in the center.[8] An example sold for 182,000 (JPY) at auction in 2018.[9] |
Rin
| Denomination | Year of reign | Japanese date | Gregorian date | Name[a] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Rin | 2nd | 二 (undated) | 1869 (undated) | KM-Pn5 | This pattern is holed in the middle with a sunburst design on both sides pointing outwards from the center. The Emperor's name is on the obverse, and "1 RIN" in Kanji on the reverse.[10] The coin is described as "extremely rare" by Heritage Auctions.[11] |
| 1 Rin | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn7 | The obverse features the Chrysanthemum seal in its center surrounded by the Emperor's name and legends. The reverse has a sunburst on it with the value "1 RIN" in Kanji.[12] This coin is described as "very rare".[13] |
| 1 Rin | 6th | 六 | 1873 | KM-Pn21 | Virtually identical to the adopted Rin design, the main difference being "1 MIL" instead of "1 RIN" in arabic.[14] This coin is described as "extremely rare" by the American Numismatic Society.[15] |
| 2 Rin | 18th | 八十 | 1885 | KM-Pn27 | Virtually identical to the adopted Rin design. The main differences include "2 RIN" instead of "1 RIN" in Arabic, and 2 lines (二) above the Japanese symbol for Rin (厘) on the reverse. This coin has been described as a "rare pattern" by Heritage Auctions.[16][17] |
| 5 Rin | 32nd | 二十三 | 1899 | KM-Pn30 | The obverse features a paulownia crest within a wreath above the chrysanthemum seal. The reverse has the value written in Kanji within a beaded circle. "5 RIN" is written in Arabic around this circle alongside other legends. This coin is described as "extremely rare" by Heritage Auctions.[18][19] |
| 5 Rin | 39th | 九十三 | 1906 | KM-Pn33 | Unknown design struck in copper.[20] |
| 5 Rin | 42nd | 二十四 | 1909 | KM-Pn35 | This pattern is virtually identical to the 1899 dated 5 rin pattern (KM-Pn30), except the reverted obverse has the chrysanthemum seal appear at the top.[21][22] One example was donated to the ANS in 1983.[23] |
Sen
| Denomination | Year of reign | Japanese date | Gregorian date | Name[a] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1⁄2s – (Half sen) | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn8 | The obverse is virtually identical to the adopted design, but "1⁄2 SEN" is written in Kanji (半銭).[b] The reverse features a sunburst design in a beaded circle surrounded by legends next to the Chrysanthemum Seal above, and a decorative wreath below.[24] These coins found their way into circulation making the few survivors well worn.[25] |
| 1 Sen | 2nd | 二 | 1869 | KM-Pn6 | The obverse is virtually identical to the 1st adopted design, but "1 SEN" is written in Kanji.[b] The reverse features a sunburst design with the inscription "Exchange 100 coins for 1 Yen" (圓ー換枚百以) written in Kanji.[26][27] This coin is described as "very rare" by Heritage Auctions.[28] |
| 1 Sen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn9 | The obverse of this pattern is the same as the preceding one, with a reverse similar to KM-Pn8.[29][27] One of these coins sold for $15,600 (USD) at auction in March, 2019.[30] |
| 1 Sen | 10th | 十 | 1877 | KM-PnA27 | Not much is known about this pattern other than a dragon design which is featured on the obverse. This particular coin was minted in silver, while all the other sen coins of the Meiji era were struck in copper.[31] |
| 1 Sen | 41st | 一十四 | 1908 | KM-Pn34 | This pattern is holed in the center, with the obverse featuring a wreath and "1 SEN" written in Kanji. The reverse has a sunburst which surrounds the central hole, legends and "1 SEN" are written in Arabic around the sunburst.[32] |
| 1 Sen | 44th | 四十四 | 1911 | KM-Pn36 | The design for this copper coin is unknown.[33] |
| 1 Sen | 44th | 四十四 | 1911 | KM-Pn37 | Obverse features a wreath with "1 SEN" written in Kanji, while the reverse features a large sunburst with legends surrounding it. "1 SEN" is written in Arabic at the bottom.[34] |
| 5 Sen | 21st | 一十二 | 1888 | KM-Pn28 | Similar to the 4th adopted 5 sen design used in the following year (1889).[35] This pattern is described as "extremely rare" by Heritage Auctions, and an example sold for $9,200 at auction in 2011.[36] |
| 5 Sen | 28th | 八十二 | 1895 | KM-Pn29 | This copper nickel pattern has a sunburst in a circle surrounded by legends and "5 SEN" written both in Arabic and Kanji on the obverse. The reverse meanwhile features a symbol within a wreath. Both sides of the coin additionally feature a rope design near the border rim.[37][38] |
Yen
| Denomination | Year of reign | Japanese date | Gregorian date | Name[a] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1⁄20 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn10 | Nothing is known about this coin other than it was struck in white metal. The adoption of a 1⁄20 yen coin would have made it the lowest ever valued in Yen. It was ultimately rejected in favor of the 5 sen coin.[39] |
| 1⁄10 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn11 KM-Pn12 |
The design of this coin is unknown. Two varieties were struck, one in copper and the other in white metal. Both were rejected in favor of the 10 sen coin.[40] |
| 1⁄4 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn13 KM-Pn14 |
The design of this coin is unknown. Two varieties were struck, one in copper and the other in white metal. While these coins were rejected, another proposal was later made during the Taishō era for a 25 sen coin.[41] |
| 1⁄2 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn15 | The obverse of this copper coin is virtually identical to the adopted 1st silver yen design. The reverse features a sunburst surrounded by a floral pattern towards the rim. The half yen coin was rejected in favor of the 50 sen coin.[42][43] |
| 1 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn16[c] | Virtually identical to the adopted 1st silver yen design.[44] “Only a handful of examples extant,” one such coin sold for $195,500 (USD) in 2011.[45] |
| 1 yen | 6th | 六 | 1873 | KM-Pn22 | Virtually identical to the adopted 2nd silver yen design. The main difference is "1873" written in Arabic below the reverse bow.[46] |
| 1 yen | 7th | 七 | 1874 | KM-Pn23 | Virtually identical to the adopted 2nd silver design.[47] |
| 1 yen | 34th | 四十三 | 1901 | KM-Pn31 | The obverse has a sunburst surrounded by a circle with legends around it, "1 YEN" is in Arabic. There is nothing on the reverse except 1 Yen written in Kanji. This coin was struck in copper.[48] |
| 1 yen | 34th | 四十三 | 1901 | KM-Pn32 | Obverse has the value written in Kanji within a wreath, and has a chrysanthemum seal located above. The reverse features a sunburst surrounded by a circle with legends around it which include "1 YEN" in Arabic.[49] One example of this rare coin sold for $80,500 (USD) in 2011.[45] |
| 21⁄2 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn17 | This rejected proposed pattern was struck in both gold and copper. While the gold design for this coin is unknown, at least one copper example survived with a design similar to KM-Pn15.[50][51] |
| 5 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn18 | Struck in gold, design unknown.[52] |
| 5 yen | 7th | 七 | 1874 | KM-Pn26 | The obverse features a dragon with legends around the border, on the reverse is a sunburst crest superimposed on the sacred mirror within the wreath. The chrysanthemum seal is located above this design.[53] |
| 10 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn19 | Virtually identical to the 1st adopted 10 yen design.[54] An example of this coin sold for $276,000 (USD) in 2011, only 3 examples (total) are known.[45][55] |
| 10 yen | 3rd | 三 | 1870 | KM-Pn20 | Struck in gold, design unknown.[56] This coin is possibly non-extant given the status of the previous pattern. |
Trade dollars
| Year of reign | Japanese date | Gregorian date | Name[a] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th | 七 | 1874 | KM-Pn24 | This pattern features the final accepted design used to strike trade dollars from 1875 to 1877. It is described as "possibly unique", if not then "very few" are known.[57][58] |
| KM-Pn25 | The obverse is similar to the adopted trade dollar design, but there is no beaded circle around the dragon. Other differences include "420 GRAINS. 900 FINE" being under the dragon rather than around the rim with "TRADE DOLLAR", and larger inscriptions. The reverse side is virtually identical to the adopted reverse design (Value within wreath, chrysanthemum above).[59] This pattern is described as "very rare" as only a few pieces are known to have survived.[60][61] |
Taishō
- Note: Early Japanese coins are read clockwise from right to left, while modern coins are read counterclockwise from right to left.
