Current circulation · 1967–present
Japan 50 Yen Cupronickel Coin
The current 50 yen is a small holed cupronickel coin with a chrysanthemum design. Its combination of center hole and milled edge separates it from the visually related 5 yen coin.
五十円白銅貨幣ごじゅうえんはくどうかへいgojū-en hakudō kahei
- Years
- 1967–present
- Composition
- Copper 75%, nickel 25%
- Diameter / weight
- 21 mm · 4 g
- Official status
- Currently issued
Context
History and monetary setting
Japan issued a solid pure-nickel 50 yen type from 1955 to 1958 and a larger holed pure-nickel type from 1959 to 1966. Both remain valid, but the smaller cupronickel design introduced in 1967 is currently issued.
Attribution
How to identify the type
Confirm the milled edge, circular hole, chrysanthemum, 21 mm diameter, and 4 gram standard. The two earlier valid 50 yen designs are larger and should be cataloged separately.
Collecting
What to record
A complete postwar 50 yen type set has three principal design generations. On the current type, date attribution requires reading Showa, Heisei, or Reiwa characters and treating 元年 as year one.
Official specifications
Status checked 2026-07-28.
- Composition
- Copper 75%, nickel 25%
- Diameter
- 21 mm
- Weight
- 4 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Milled
- Obverse
- Chrysanthemum and denomination
- Reverse
- Denomination, 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.
1955–1958
Solid Nickel 50 Yen
Valid; not currently issuedLarge solid nickel design with chrysanthemum
- Composition
- Nickel 100%
- Diameter
- 25 mm
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Reeded
- Hole
- None
1959–1966
First Holed Nickel 50 Yen
Valid; not currently issuedLarge holed nickel design with chrysanthemum
- Composition
- Nickel 100%
- Diameter
- 25 mm
- Weight
- 5 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Smooth
- Hole
- Present
1967–present
Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen
Currently issuedChrysanthemum, denomination, country name, and era date
- Composition
- Copper 75%, nickel 25%
- Diameter
- 21 mm
- Weight
- 4 g
- Thickness
- Not stated by cited official sources
- Edge
- Reeded
- 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 30 | 1955 | Solid Nickel 50 Yen | 63,700,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 31 | 1956 | Solid Nickel 50 Yen | 91,300,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 32 | 1957 | Solid Nickel 50 Yen | 39,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 33 | 1958 | Solid Nickel 50 Yen | 18,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 34 | 1959 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 23,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 35 | 1960 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 6,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 36 | 1961 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 16,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 37 | 1962 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 50,300,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 38 | 1963 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 55,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 39 | 1964 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 69,200,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 40 | 1965 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 189,300,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 41 | 1966 | First Holed Nickel 50 Yen | 171,500,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 42 | 1967 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 238,400,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 43 | 1968 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 200,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 44 | 1969 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 210,900,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 45 | 1970 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 269,800,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 46 | 1971 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 80,950,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 47 | 1972 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 138,980,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 48 | 1973 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 200,970,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 49 | 1974 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 470,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 50 | 1975 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 238,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 51 | 1976 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 241,880,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 52 | 1977 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 176,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 53 | 1978 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 234,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 54 | 1979 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 110,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 55 | 1980 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 51,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 56 | 1981 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 179,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 57 | 1982 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 30,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 58 | 1983 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 30,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 59 | 1984 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 29,850,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 60 | 1985 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 10,150,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 61 | 1986 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 9,960,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 62 | 1987 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 775,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 63 | 1988 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 109,112,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Showa 64 | 1989 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 0 · no manufacture reported | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 1 | 1989 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 245,000,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 2 | 1990 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 274,953,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 3 | 1991 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 209,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 4 | 1992 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 49,130,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 5 | 1993 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 51,240,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 6 | 1994 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 65,767,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 7 | 1995 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 111,874,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 8 | 1996 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 82,213,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 9 | 1997 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 150,086,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 10 | 1998 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 100,612,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 11 | 1999 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 59,120,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 12 | 2000 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 7,026,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 13 | 2001 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 8,024,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 14 | 2002 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 11,667,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 15 | 2003 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 10,406,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 16 | 2004 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 9,903,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 17 | 2005 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 10,029,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 18 | 2006 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 10,594,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 19 | 2007 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 9,904,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 20 | 2008 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 8,811,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 21 | 2009 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 5,003,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 22 | 2010 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 510,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 23 | 2011 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 456,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 24 | 2012 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 659,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 25 | 2013 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 554,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 26 | 2014 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 7,538,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 27 | 2015 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 47,004,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 28 | 2016 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 46,064,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 29 | 2017 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 20,927,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 30 | 2018 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 56,960,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Heisei 31 | 2019 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 1,118,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 1 | 2019 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 42,502,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 2 | 2020 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 58,428,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 3 | 2021 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 9,133,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 4 | 2022 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 574,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 5 | 2023 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 463,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 6 | 2024 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 511,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Proof/business split not separately reported |
| Reiwa 7 | 2025 | Small Holed Cupronickel 50 Yen | 595,000 | Not separately reported | Not separately reported | Officially documented as sale-set production only |
Design and symbolism
What the motifs communicate
Chrysanthemum imagery identifies the denomination's modern lineage; hole, size, and edge distinguish its generations.
Collecting
How to organize the series
Treat all three principal designs separately and record mint-set-only years only where an official production source explicitly supports that label.
Grading
Surface and wear checkpoints
Inspect the hole and outer rim for damage, the chrysanthemum high points for wear, and fields for hairlines or unnatural brightness.
Authentication
Generation-correct diagnostics
Use the 25 mm versus 21 mm diameter, 5.5/5.0/4.0 g mass, hole, edge, metal, chrysanthemum, and era date together.
Major diagnostics and varieties
Use hole, 25 versus 21 mm diameter, mass, alloy, and edge together.
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