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Material form

Japan Coin Forms and Shapes

Browse Japanese money by round-square-hole, oval, rectangular, bar, bean-shaped, modern round, and other documentary forms.

Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a representative four-mon Kan'ei Tsūhō
Representative contextual image: Obverse and reverse of a representative four-mon Kan'ei Tsūhō.↗
円形方孔

Round with square central hole

Ancient state cash · Imported cash · Kanei Tsuho

7 coin series
Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of an 1889 Meiji 22 one-yen silver coin
Representative contextual image: Obverse and reverse of an 1889 Meiji 22 one-yen silver coin.↗
円形

Round

Modern milled coinage · Commemoratives

18 coin series
Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a current-design holed 50 Yen cupronickel coin of Japan, dated Heisei 18 (2006).
Representative contextual image: Obverse and reverse of a current-design holed 50 Yen cupronickel coin of Japan, dated Heisei 18 (2006).↗
円形円孔

Round with circular central hole

Modern 5-yen and 50-yen coins

6 coin series
Thumbnail: Exact documented obverse of an 1859 Ansei Koban photographed at the Toi Museum.
Representative contextual image: Exact documented obverse of an 1859 Ansei Koban photographed at the Toi Museum.↗
楕円形

Oval

Koban

4 coin series
Thumbnail: Obverse of a Keicho Oban in the Tokyo National Museum
Representative contextual image: Obverse of a Keicho Oban in the Tokyo National Museum.↗
大判形

Large oval

Oban

1 normalized series
Thumbnail: One face of a representative Genroku Chogin
Representative contextual image: One face of a representative Genroku Chogin.↗
延棒形

Bar or elongated ingot

Chogin

1 normalized series
Thumbnail: One face of a representative Genroku Mameitagin
Representative contextual image: One face of a representative Genroku Mameitagin.↗
豆板形

Bean-shaped fragment

Mameitagin

1 normalized series
Thumbnail: Obverse and reverse of a Keicho Ichibukin
Representative contextual image: Obverse and reverse of a Keicho Ichibukin.↗
長方形

Rectangular

Ichibukin · Nishukin · Isshugin

3 coin series
方形

Square

Some emergency and local issues

0 coin series
その他不定形

Other irregular or documentary form

Proto-currency · Unstandardized metal money

2 coin series

Evidence

Sources and scope

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

Currency Museum: Japanese Currency FAQs and historical overview Currency Museum, Bank of Japan

Early Japanese coinage, Wado Kaichin qualification, square-holed coin context, Edo monetary units.

Open source
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