Current circulation · 1959–present
Japan 10 Yen Bronze Coin
Japan's current 10 yen bronze coin uses Byodoin Phoenix Hall as its principal architectural design. The smooth-edged form has been currently issued since 1959.
十円青銅貨幣じゅうえんせいどうかへいjū-en seidō kahei
- Years
- 1959–present
- Composition
- Copper 95%, zinc 3–4%, tin 1–2%
- Diameter / weight
- 23.5 mm · 4.5 g
- Official status
- Currently issued
Context
History and monetary setting
The design first appeared on an earlier 1951–1958 coin with a milled edge. The Ministry of Finance lists that predecessor as valid in use, while the smooth-edge form is the currently issued coin.
Attribution
How to identify the type
Distinguish the current type from the valid predecessor by checking the edge, not merely the Phoenix Hall design. The reverse has an evergreen tree, the denomination, and an era date.
Collecting
What to record
Bronze surfaces range from red-brown to dark brown through normal oxidation. Cleaning can permanently alter them. A date collection should label the 1951–1958 milled-edge predecessor as a separate design generation.
Official specifications
Status checked 2026-07-28.
- Composition
- Copper 95%, zinc 3–4%, tin 1–2%
- Diameter
- 23.5 mm
- Weight
- 4.5 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Obverse
- Byodoin Phoenix Hall and arabesque
- Reverse
- Evergreen tree, denomination, and date
Type history
Principal design generations
Each card is a separate catalog generation. Current issue, valid-old status, and historical scope remain distinct.
1951–1958
Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen
Valid; not currently issuedByodoin Phoenix Hall and evergreen foliage
- Composition
- Copper 95%, zinc 3–4%, tin 1–2%
- Diameter
- 23.5 mm
- Weight
- 4.5 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Reeded
- Hole
- None
1959–present
Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen
Currently issuedByodoin Phoenix Hall and evergreen foliage
- Composition
- Copper 95%, zinc 3–4%, tin 1–2%
- Diameter
- 23.5 mm
- Weight
- 4.5 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 26 | 1951 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 101,068,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 27 | 1952 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 486,632,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 28 | 1953 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 466,300,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 29 | 1954 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 520,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 30 | 1955 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 123,100,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 31 | 1956 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 0 · no manufacture reported | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 32 | 1957 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 50,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 33 | 1958 | Reeded-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 25,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 34 | 1959 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 62,400,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 35 | 1960 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 225,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 36 | 1961 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 229,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 37 | 1962 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 284,200,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 38 | 1963 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 411,300,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 39 | 1964 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 479,200,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 40 | 1965 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 387,600,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 41 | 1966 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 395,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 42 | 1967 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 158,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 43 | 1968 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 363,600,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 44 | 1969 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 414,800,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 45 | 1970 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 382,700,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 46 | 1971 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 610,050,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 47 | 1972 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 634,950,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 48 | 1973 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,345,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 49 | 1974 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,780,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 50 | 1975 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,280,260,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 51 | 1976 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,369,740,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 52 | 1977 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,467,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 53 | 1978 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,435,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 54 | 1979 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,207,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 55 | 1980 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,127,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 56 | 1981 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 1,369,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 57 | 1982 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 890,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 58 | 1983 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 870,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 59 | 1984 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 533,850,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 60 | 1985 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 335,150,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 61 | 1986 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 68,960,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 62 | 1987 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 165,775,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 63 | 1988 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 618,112,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 64 | 1989 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 74,692,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 1 | 1989 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 666,308,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 2 | 1990 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 754,953,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 3 | 1991 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 632,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 4 | 1992 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 538,130,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 5 | 1993 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 249,240,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 6 | 1994 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 190,767,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 7 | 1995 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 248,874,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 8 | 1996 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 546,213,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 9 | 1997 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 491,086,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 10 | 1998 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 410,612,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 11 | 1999 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 359,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 12 | 2000 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 315,026,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 13 | 2001 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 542,024,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 14 | 2002 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 455,667,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 15 | 2003 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 551,406,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 16 | 2004 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 592,903,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 17 | 2005 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 504,029,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 18 | 2006 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 440,594,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 19 | 2007 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 388,904,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 20 | 2008 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 362,811,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 21 | 2009 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 338,003,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 22 | 2010 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 328,905,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 23 | 2011 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 255,936,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 24 | 2012 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 279,211,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 25 | 2013 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 100,892,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 26 | 2014 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 171,013,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 27 | 2015 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 203,004,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 28 | 2016 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 198,064,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 29 | 2017 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 124,927,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 30 | 2018 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 178,960,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 31 | 2019 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 197,594,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 1 | 2019 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 137,026,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 2 | 2020 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 276,428,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 3 | 2021 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 139,133,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 4 | 2022 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 129,874,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 5 | 2023 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 27,927,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 6 | 2024 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 109,027,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 7 | 2025 | Plain-Edge Bronze 10 Yen | 154,071,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
Design and symbolism
What the motifs communicate
Byodoin Phoenix Hall presents a landmark of Japanese architectural heritage; evergreen foliage frames the denomination and date.
Collecting
How to organize the series
Record the edge explicitly. Coins manufactured from 1951 were released beginning in 1953, so production date and legal issue date are separate facts.
Grading
Surface and wear checkpoints
Grade color and surface preservation conservatively; red-brown through dark-brown oxidation can be natural, while cleaning disturbs texture and luster.
Authentication
Generation-correct diagnostics
Check 23.5 mm, 4.5 g, bronze composition, edge type, Phoenix Hall architecture, evergreen reverse, and a plausible era date.
Major diagnostics and varieties
The same Phoenix Hall design occurs with a reeded predecessor and a plain current edge.
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