Current circulation · 1955–present
Japan 1 Yen Aluminum Coin
Introduced in 1955, the lightweight 1 yen coin is Japan's smallest current denomination and is specified as pure aluminum. Its one-gram mass is a useful identification check, but weight alone does not establish authenticity.
一円アルミニウム貨幣いちえんアルミニウムかへいichi-en aruminiumu kahei
- Years
- 1955–present
- Composition
- Aluminum 100%
- Diameter / weight
- 20 mm · 1 g
- Official status
- Currently issued
Context
History and monetary setting
The type belongs to the postwar reconstruction of Japan's coinage. It followed earlier brass 1 yen pieces and has retained the young-tree motif while dates changed from Showa through Heisei to Reiwa.
Attribution
How to identify the type
Confirm a round, unholed aluminum coin with a smooth edge. The young tree is on the obverse; the reverse carries the large numeral 1, 日本国, and an era date. Read the era name before converting the year.
Collecting
What to record
A date run crosses three modern eras. Separate circulation wear from weak detail, and avoid polishing the soft aluminum surface. Production quantity varies by year; this foundation does not publish uncited annual mintages.
Official specifications
Status checked 2026-07-28.
- Composition
- Aluminum 100%
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Weight
- 1 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Obverse
- Young tree
- Reverse
- Numeral 1, country name, and date
Type history
Principal design generations
Each card is a separate catalog generation. Current issue, valid-old status, and historical scope remain distinct.
1948–1950
Postwar Brass 1 Yen
Historical; not on current valid-old listTachibana orange, denomination, country name, and era date
- Composition
- Copper 60%, zinc 40%
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Weight
- 3.2 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Reeded
- Hole
- None
- Official lifetime total
- 451,170,000
Annual split unavailable
1955–present
Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen
Currently issuedSapling, denomination, country name, and era date
- Composition
- Aluminum 100%
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Weight
- 1 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Hole
- None
Annual manufacture
Official year-name totals through 2025
Totals are pieces, normalized from the Japan Mint table's thousands-of-pieces unit. Commemoratives are excluded. Business strikes and proofs are not separated by the source.
| Era date | Gregorian | Generation | Reported total | Business strikes | Proofs | Evidence note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showa 23 | 1948 | Not applicable / unavailable | Unavailable | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Dash in official table; not converted to zero |
| Showa 24 | 1949 | Not applicable / unavailable | Unavailable | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Dash in official table; not converted to zero |
| Showa 25 | 1950 | Not applicable / unavailable | Unavailable | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Dash in official table; not converted to zero |
| Showa 26 | 1951 | Not applicable / unavailable | Unavailable | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Dash in official table; not converted to zero |
| Showa 27 | 1952 | Not applicable / unavailable | Unavailable | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Dash in official table; not converted to zero |
| Showa 28 | 1953 | Not applicable / unavailable | Unavailable | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Dash in official table; not converted to zero |
| Showa 29 | 1954 | Not applicable / unavailable | Unavailable | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Dash in official table; not converted to zero |
| Showa 30 | 1955 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 381,700,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 31 | 1956 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 500,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 32 | 1957 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 492,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 33 | 1958 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 374,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 34 | 1959 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 208,600,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 35 | 1960 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 300,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 36 | 1961 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 432,400,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 37 | 1962 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 572,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 38 | 1963 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 788,700,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 39 | 1964 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,665,100,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 40 | 1965 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,743,256,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 41 | 1966 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 807,344,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 42 | 1967 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 220,600,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 43 | 1968 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 0 · no manufacture reported | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 44 | 1969 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 184,700,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 45 | 1970 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 556,400,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 46 | 1971 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 904,950,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 47 | 1972 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,274,950,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 48 | 1973 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,470,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 49 | 1974 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,750,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 50 | 1975 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,656,150,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 51 | 1976 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 928,850,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 52 | 1977 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 895,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 53 | 1978 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 864,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 54 | 1979 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,015,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 55 | 1980 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,145,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 56 | 1981 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,206,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 57 | 1982 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,017,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 58 | 1983 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,086,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 59 | 1984 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 981,850,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 60 | 1985 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 837,150,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 61 | 1986 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 417,960,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 62 | 1987 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 955,775,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 63 | 1988 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,269,042,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 64 | 1989 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 116,100,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 1 | 1989 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 2,366,970,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 2 | 1990 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 2,768,953,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 3 | 1991 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 2,301,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 4 | 1992 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,299,130,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 5 | 1993 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,261,240,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 6 | 1994 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,040,767,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 7 | 1995 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 1,041,874,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 8 | 1996 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 942,213,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 9 | 1997 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 783,086,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 10 | 1998 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 452,612,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 11 | 1999 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 67,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 12 | 2000 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 12,026,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 13 | 2001 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 8,024,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 14 | 2002 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 9,667,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 15 | 2003 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 117,406,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 16 | 2004 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 52,903,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 17 | 2005 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 30,029,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 18 | 2006 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 129,594,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 19 | 2007 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 223,904,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 20 | 2008 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 134,811,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 21 | 2009 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 48,003,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 22 | 2010 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 7,905,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 23 | 2011 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 456,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 24 | 2012 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 659,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 25 | 2013 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 554,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 26 | 2014 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 124,013,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 27 | 2015 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 82,004,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 28 | 2016 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 574,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 29 | 2017 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 477,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 30 | 2018 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 440,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 31 | 2019 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 566,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 1 | 2019 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 502,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 2 | 2020 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 528,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 3 | 2021 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 845,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 4 | 2022 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 574,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 5 | 2023 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 463,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 6 | 2024 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 511,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 7 | 2025 | Aluminum Sapling 1 Yen | 595,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Officially documented as sale-set production only |
Design and symbolism
What the motifs communicate
The current sapling represents national growth; the denomination and era date provide the primary attribution points.
Collecting
How to organize the series
Separate the 1948–1950 brass predecessor from the 1955–present aluminum generation. Preserve weak aluminum surfaces and never infer a missing annual mintage as zero.
Grading
Surface and wear checkpoints
Friction, contact marks, discoloration, and loss of fine sapling detail matter; artificial brightening or harsh cleaning can permanently alter the surface.
Authentication
Generation-correct diagnostics
Check the 20 mm diameter, 1.0 g mass, aluminum color and magnetic response, complete rim, sapling, and correctly formed era date. Authentication requires in-hand examination when these signals conflict.
reportedTotal is official year-name manufacture; businessStrikeMintage and proofMintage remain null when the official table does not separate them.
Continue browsing
Related Japan references
Evidence
Sources and scope
These links support the claims on this page. Source authority does not imply permission to republish source images.
Currently issued and valid older coin designs, first issue years, compositions, diameters, and weights.
Open sourceCurrent six coin denominations, designs, edges, first issue years, and technical specifications.
Open sourceOfficial status, composition, mass, diameter, and issue spans
Open sourceCurrent specifications, edges, and designs
Open sourceOlder valid status and official issue chronology
Open sourceAnnual design-generation manufacturing totals, source units, zeros, dashes, and exclusions
Open source5 yen lettering change, coin holes, proof manufacture, and set context
Open source