1 Yen, Meiji Year 29 (1896) And Year 45 (1912)Tokyo Mint

Posted by slang on September 23, 2009

Earlier article showed a one yen year 1894  Japanese dragon coin which explained some of its features. Below are another two more beautiful Japanese dragon motif coins for those coin collectors who loved the majestic dragon as part of  theme collection.

1 Yen, Meiji Year 29 (1896), Tokyo Mint, Gin countermark on right

1 Yen, Meiji Year 45 (1912)

Japan 1820-1837 Silver “Bean” Coin Mameita-Gin

Posted by slang on September 16, 2009

Japan Bunsei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. God of Plenty and characters

Above picture is the Japan Bunsei silver ”Bean” coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. God of Plenty  and characters, Weight: 8g. Size: ~16×14 mm

Japan Bunsei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. special pattern and characters

Above picture is a Japan Bunsei silver ”Bean” coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1820-37, Obv. special pattern and characters, Weight: 12g. Size: ~19.5×15.3 mm

Japan Ansei silver Bean coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1859-65, Obv. 2 characters Sei

Above picture is a Japan Ansei silver ”Bean” coin, Mameita-Gin, issued in 1859-65, Obv. 2 characters Sei, Weight: 11.2g.   Size: ~19×15 mm

History Of Coinage Under The Meiji Era(1867-1912)

Posted by slang on August 28, 2009

The designs of the Meiji emperor’s new coins used Japanese motifs with a Chinese Inscription. The silver yen dated 1870 had a dragon on the front and a sun surrounded by a floral border on the back. The inscription around the dragon named the issuer, date and denomination. From 1873, the sun motif was replaced by an inscription naming the denomination, while the denomination on the dragon side was written in English : ONE YEN.

A bit of history:

In 1868, the last Shogun was overthrown and power restored to the emperor. In 1870, the Meiji emperor replaced the official and local coins and paper money issued under the shoguns with a new European style coinage, based on the silve dollar. The Japanese for dollar was yen, meaning a round coin and for cent sen, meaning a copper coin.  A new imperial mint was built at Osaka, using minting machinery from Birmingham, England.

The Meiji first coins dated third year (1870) of the Meiji(Brilliant Rule) period, were issued the following year,1871. Gold 1,5,10 and 20 yen pieces, silver 1 yen, and 5, 10,20 and 50 sen and copper 1/2,1 and 2 sen and 1 rin coins were issued from 1871. The rin coin representing one-thousandth of a dollar and intended to equal in value the shoguns’ traditional copper alloy coin, the mon was not popular and soon disappeared from use.