Value ⁄2 Japanese Yen Shape circular | Edge Reeded Years of minting 1870–1948 | |
 | ||
Mass (1870–1871) 12.5 g
(1873–1905) 13.4 g
(1906–1917) 10.1 g
(1922–1938) 4.9 g
(1946–1947) 4.5 g
(1947–1948) 2.8 g Composition Silver/copper, then later brass | ||
The 50 sen coin (五十銭) 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.
Contents
History
Fifty sen coins were first minted in 1870 during the reign of the Meiji emperor. The New Currency Act of 1871 stipulated the adoption of the decimal accounting system of yen (1, 圓), sen (1⁄100, 銭), and rin (1⁄1000, 厘), with the coins being round and manufactured using Western machinery. These coins were minted during six periods that spanned three different imperial eras. Production of silver coins stopped in 1938, and the coins were replaced by brass ones starting in 1946. The final fifty-sen coins were produced two years later, and the coin was eventually taken out of circulation at the end of 1953.
Meiji
The following are circulation figures for the coins that were minted between the 3rd, and the 45th and last year of Meiji's reign. Coins for this period all begin with the Japanese symbol 明治 (Meiji). Fifty sen pieces that were minted between 1874 and 1877, and in 1880, are considered key date coins with a value in the thousands of US dollars. Early silver fifty sen coins have often been counterfeited, so grading by an expert is recommended for collectors.
"Year" <- "Number representing year of reign" <- "Emperors name" (Ex: 年 <- 五十三 <- 治明)
Taishō
The following are circulation figures for the coins that were minted between the 1st and the 15th (and last) year of Taishō's reign. Coins from this period all begin with the Japanese symbol 大正 (Taishō).
Showa
The following are circulation figures for coins minted between the 3rd and the 23rd year of Emperor Showa's reign. Coins from this period all begin with the Japanese symbol 昭和 (Showa).
* = First style (Brass)
** = Second style (Brass, reduced size)