Current circulation · 1959–present
Japan 5 Yen Brass Coin
The current 5 yen coin is a holed brass type first issued in 1959. Its agricultural, industrial, and water motifs make it visually distinctive, and the denomination is written in Japanese rather than Western numerals.
五円黄銅貨幣ごえんおうどうかへいgo-en ōdō kahei
- Years
- 1959–present
- Composition
- Copper 60–70%, zinc 40–30%
- Diameter / weight
- 22 mm · 3.75 g
- Official status
- Currently issued
Context
History and monetary setting
The present lettering style followed two earlier valid postwar 5 yen designs: an unholed 1948–1949 type and a holed 1949–1958 type with kaisho-style lettering. Those are valid but no longer currently issued.
Attribution
How to identify the type
Confirm the circular center hole, smooth edge, brass color, ear of rice, gear, water lines, and sprouting plant. The reverse date uses a Japanese era name; color can vary with toning and should not be the only diagnostic.
Collecting
What to record
Collectors often organize this type by era and date. Check the characters and date carefully because the current and earlier holed types differ in lettering. Do not treat a valid older design as the currently issued type.
Official specifications
Status checked 2026-07-28.
- Composition
- Copper 60–70%, zinc 40–30%
- Diameter
- 22 mm
- Weight
- 3.75 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Obverse
- Ear of rice, gear, water, and denomination
- Reverse
- Sprouting plant, 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.
1948–1949
No-Hole Brass 5 Yen
Valid; not currently issuedFirst postwar 5 yen design without a center hole
- Composition
- Copper 60–70%, zinc 40–30%
- Diameter
- 22 mm
- Weight
- 4 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Hole
- None
1949–1958
Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen
Valid; not currently issuedRice, gear, water, sprout, and Kaisho-style lettering
- Composition
- Copper 60–70%, zinc 40–30%
- Diameter
- 22 mm
- Weight
- 3.75 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Hole
- Present
1959–present
Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen
Currently issuedRice, gear, water, sprout, and Gothic-style lettering
- Composition
- Copper 60–70%, zinc 40–30%
- Diameter
- 22 mm
- Weight
- 3.75 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Hole
- Present
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 | No-Hole Brass 5 Yen | 74,520,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 24 | 1949 | No-Hole Brass 5 Yen + Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 291,588,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 25 | 1950 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 181,824,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 26 | 1951 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 197,980,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 27 | 1952 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 55,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 28 | 1953 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 45,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 29 | 1954 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 0 · no manufacture reported | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 30 | 1955 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 0 · no manufacture reported | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 31 | 1956 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 0 · no manufacture reported | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 32 | 1957 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 10,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 33 | 1958 | Holed Kaisho-Script Brass 5 Yen | 50,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 34 | 1959 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 33,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 35 | 1960 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 34,800,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 36 | 1961 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 61,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 37 | 1962 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 126,700,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 38 | 1963 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 171,800,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 39 | 1964 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 379,700,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 40 | 1965 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 384,200,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 41 | 1966 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 163,100,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 42 | 1967 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 26,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 43 | 1968 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 114,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 44 | 1969 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 240,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 45 | 1970 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 340,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 46 | 1971 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 362,050,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 47 | 1972 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 562,950,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 48 | 1973 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 745,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 49 | 1974 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 950,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 50 | 1975 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 970,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 51 | 1976 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 200,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 52 | 1977 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 340,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 53 | 1978 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 318,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 54 | 1979 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 317,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 55 | 1980 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 385,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 56 | 1981 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 95,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 57 | 1982 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 455,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 58 | 1983 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 410,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 59 | 1984 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 202,850,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 60 | 1985 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 153,150,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 61 | 1986 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 113,960,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 62 | 1987 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 631,775,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 63 | 1988 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 396,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 64 | 1989 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 67,332,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 1 | 1989 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 960,660,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 2 | 1990 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 520,953,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 3 | 1991 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 517,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 4 | 1992 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 301,130,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 5 | 1993 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 413,240,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 6 | 1994 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 197,767,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 7 | 1995 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 351,874,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 8 | 1996 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 207,213,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 9 | 1997 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 239,086,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 10 | 1998 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 172,612,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 11 | 1999 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 60,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 12 | 2000 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 9,030,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 13 | 2001 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 78,025,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 14 | 2002 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 143,662,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 15 | 2003 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 102,406,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 16 | 2004 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 70,903,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 17 | 2005 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 16,029,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 18 | 2006 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 9,594,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 19 | 2007 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 9,904,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 20 | 2008 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 9,811,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 21 | 2009 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 4,003,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 22 | 2010 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 510,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 23 | 2011 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 456,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 24 | 2012 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 659,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 25 | 2013 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 554,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 26 | 2014 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 87,538,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 27 | 2015 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 105,004,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 28 | 2016 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 35,064,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 29 | 2017 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 33,927,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 30 | 2018 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 17,960,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 31 | 2019 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 16,946,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 1 | 2019 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 20,574,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 2 | 2020 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 29,528,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 3 | 2021 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 10,133,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 4 | 2022 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 574,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 5 | 2023 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 463,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 6 | 2024 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 511,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 7 | 2025 | Holed Gothic-Script Brass 5 Yen | 595,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Officially documented as sale-set production only |
Design and symbolism
What the motifs communicate
Rice, water, a gear, and a sprout join agriculture, fisheries, industry, and postwar growth in one compact design.
Collecting
How to organize the series
A principal type set contains the no-hole, Kaisho-script holed, and Gothic-script holed generations. Read the lettering rather than relying on color or hole alone.
Grading
Surface and wear checkpoints
Inspect hole rims, lettering, high-point wear on the rice and gear, spots, stains, and evidence of polishing.
Authentication
Generation-correct diagnostics
Confirm the 22 mm diameter, generation-correct mass, smooth edge, centered hole where applicable, rice/gear/water design, and coherent era inscription.
Major diagnostics and varieties
Compare the style of the Japanese legends on the holed brass types; 1959 marks the official lettering change.
Security features
Identification aids do not replace expert in-hand counterfeit examination.
Visual and tactile distinction, material saving, and anti-counterfeiting context documented by the Japan Mint.
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