Japan catalog

Japan Coin Encyclopedia

A source-aware encyclopedia of Japanese money by period, monetary system, denomination, coin form, era date, circulation status, and commemorative program.

Multiple lenses

Choose the relationship you know

A date, unit, shape, historical system, or current denomination can all lead to the same record without flattening Japan's monetary history.

Thumbnail: A Tokyo National Museum group illustrating the twelve ancient court coin types — Representative image; not the exact image of every issue described on this page.

Deep production Ancient Japanese coinage

Early silver, Fuhonsen, Wado Kaichin, and the twelve court coin types

Later 7th century–958

Thumbnail: Exact documented obverse of an 1859 Ansei Koban photographed at the Toi Museum. — Representative image; not the exact image of every issue described on this page.

Tri-metallic system Edo-period coinage

Declared gold, weight-valued silver, counted cash, recoinages, and production offices

1603–1868

Chronology Historical periods

From proto-currency to current programs

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of the 2021 Reiwa 3 bicolor-clad 500-yen coin — Exact documented image: Obverse and reverse of the 2021 Reiwa 3 bicolor-clad 500-yen coin.

Value Denominations and units

Mon, ryo, monme, yen, sen, rin, and commemorative values

Form Coin forms

Square-holed cash, oval gold, silver bars, modern rounds, and more

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a Meiji 8 (1875) Trade Yen of Japan. — Representative image; not the exact image of every issue described on this page.

Dates Era-date guide

Meiji through Reiwa, including gannen

Status checked Current and valid coins

Six current designs and nine older valid designs

2026-07-28

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic 100-yen silver coin — Representative image; not the exact image of every issue described on this page.

Programs Commemorative coins

Circulation, premium, 47-prefecture, and National Parks programs

Production Mints and institutions

Ancient offices, Tokugawa networks, and the modern Japan Mint

Substantive research routes

Landmark historical series

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of the Wadō Kaichin excavated at the Sūfuku-ji Temple site — Representative image; not the exact image of every issue described on this page.

01Wado Kaichin: Japan's Landmark 708 CoinageFrom 708 · 和同開珎

02Koban: The One-Ryo Gold Coin in Tokugawa Japan1601–1867 · 小判

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a representative four-mon Kan'ei Tsūhō — Representative image; not the exact image of every issue described on this page.

03Kanei Tsuho: Tokugawa Japan's Long-Running Cash CoinageFrom 1636 · 寛永通宝

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of an 1889 Meiji 22 one-yen silver coin — Representative image; not the exact image of every issue described on this page.

04Meiji Silver Yen: Japan's Modern Dragon DollarMeiji era · 明治一円銀貨

Modern identification

Six currently issued denominations

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a current-design 1 Yen aluminum coin of Japan, dated Heisei 18 (2006). — Exact current-design 1 Yen coin dated Heisei 18 (2006).

一円アルミニウム貨幣 1 Yen Aluminum Coin

20 mm · 1 g · Aluminum 100%

1955–present

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a current-design holed 5 Yen brass coin of Japan, dated Heisei 18 (2006). — Exact current-design holed 5 Yen coin dated Heisei 18 (2006).

五円黄銅貨幣 5 Yen Brass Coin

22 mm · 3.75 g · Copper 60–70%, zinc 40–30%

1959–present

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a current-design 10 Yen bronze coin of Japan, dated Heisei 18 (2006). — Exact current-design 10 Yen coin dated Heisei 18 (2006).

十円青銅貨幣 10 Yen Bronze Coin

23.5 mm · 4.5 g · Copper 95%, zinc 3–4%, tin 1–2%

1959–present

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a current-design holed 50 Yen cupronickel coin of Japan, dated Heisei 18 (2006). — Exact current-design holed 50 Yen coin dated Heisei 18 (2006).

五十円白銅貨幣 50 Yen Cupronickel Coin

21 mm · 4 g · Copper 75%, nickel 25%

1967–present

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a current-design 100 Yen cupronickel coin of Japan, dated Heisei 18 (2006). — Exact current-design 100 Yen coin dated Heisei 18 (2006).

百円白銅貨幣 100 Yen Cupronickel Coin

22.6 mm · 4.8 g · Copper 75%, nickel 25%

1967–present

五百円バイカラー・クラッド貨幣 500 Yen Bicolor Clad Coin

26.5 mm · 7.1 g · Copper 75%, zinc 12.5%, nickel 12.5%; bicolor clad structure

2021–present

Publication boundary

Taxonomy rows do not automatically authorize pages. Issue dates, mintages, varieties, values, colonial issues, and individual commemoratives remain behind their evidence and publication gates.

Evidence

Sources and scope

These links support the claims on this page. Source authority does not imply permission to republish source images.

Historical events and currencies in use Currency Museum, Bank of Japan

Ancient through modern chronology, Tokugawa tri-metallic system, Kanei Tsuho, koban, Meiji yen transition.

Open source

Current Coins List Ministry of Finance Japan

Currently issued and valid older coin designs, first issue years, compositions, diameters, and weights.

Open source

Commemorative Coins List Ministry of Finance Japan

Commemorative program categories, specifications, and issue chronology.

Open source