50 sen coin#Taishō

Fifty sen coins were first struck towards the end of 1870 (year 3 of Meiji) from a newly established mint at Osaka.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K49PDAAAQBAJ&dq=Japan+5+sen+coin+December+1870+osaka&pg=RA2-PA683|title=Years-Estyate For Yen|work=Palgrave's Dictionary of Political Economy|author=John Eatwell|publisher=Springer|year=2016|page=683|isbn=9781349103584}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IVctAAAAIAAJ&dq=Japan+5+sen+coin+1870&pg=RA2-PA25|title=History - The First Period|work=Financial and Economic Annual of Japan|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|issue=7|year=1907|page=25}} These coins were likely not placed in circulation immediately, as they were officially adopted with twelve other denominations by the Meiji government in an act signed on June 27, 1871.A. Piatt Andrew, Quarterly Journal of Economics, "The End of the Mexican Dollar", 18:3:321–356, 1904, p. 345 This new coinage gave Japan a western style decimal system based on units of yen, which were broken down into subsidiary currency of sen, and rin.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jv2Sh6mTKi4C&q=one+sen+coin+1873&pg=PA345 |title=Annual Report of the Director of the United States Mint |publisher=United States Department of the Treasury |year=1899 |page=345 |chapter=Brief History of Coinage Laws Since 1871}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dHk9AAAAYAAJ&q=half+sen+1873&pg=PA983|title=Coinage at Home and Abroad|work=The Bankers' Magazine, and Statistical Register|author=Wm. Crosby and H.P. Nicholes|year=1873|volume=27|page=983}} Fifty sen coins dated 1870 (year 3) were initially authorized to be struck in .800 silver, weighs 193 grains (12.51g), and has a 31.75mm diameter (1.25 in).{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6RlDAQAAIAAJ&dq=5+sen+coin+silver&pg=PA745|title=The Japan Daily Mail|volume=4|year=1874|page=71 & 745}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVZHAQAAIAAJ&dq=5+sen+coin+19.3+grains&pg=RA1-PA298|title=Monetary System of Japan|work=United States Congressional Serial Set|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|volume=1738|year=1877|page=298}}{{efn|Modern sourcing places the diameter at 31.5mm (1.24 in).{{cite web|url=https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/japan-50-sen-y-4-yr-3(1870)-yr-4(1871)-cuid-117950-duid-302249|title=Japan 50 Sen Yr.3(1870)-Yr.4(1871)|publisher=Numismatic Guaranty Corporation|access-date=August 30, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.buntetsu.net/mbc/m05.htm|title=50銭銀貨|work=www.buntetsu.net|access-date=March 13, 2020}}}} The first design used is called {{nihongo|rising sun dragon|旭日竜|Asahi Ryu}}, which had its features engraved by a commission of Japanese artists.{{cite web|url=http://pepper.cool.coocan.jp/round/asahiryu_10sen.htm|title=旭日竜十銭銀貨|work=Pepper's Square|language=Japanese|accessdate=December 7, 2020}} This design features a dragon with an open mouth on the obverse, while the reverse has a paulownia decoration with a sunburst in the center with the chrysanthemum seal up on top. Fifty sen coins were initially legal tender only up to the amount of 10 yen which was fixed by government regulations.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GbgpAAAAYAAJ&q=one+sen+coin+1878&pg=PA2264|title=Commercial Notes|work=Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance of the United States|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1900|page=2264}} There was a slight 0.5mm adjustment to the coin's size sometime during production which may have resulted from work done while repairing the die.{{cite web|url=http://pepper.cool.coocan.jp/round/asahiryu_50sen.htm|title=旭日竜五十銭銀貨|work=Pepper's Square|language=ja|access-date=October 23, 2021}} Striking thin silver coins became an issue as it shortened the life of the dies used to strike the coins, this in turn caused many cumbersome replacements. An amendment to the new currency act ({{nihongo|Daijo-kan Declaration No. 341|新貨幣量目寸法改正}}) was adopted in November 1872 (year 5) which intended to reduce the diameter, and increase the weight of the fifty sen coin. However, no coins were ever struck using the first design as the currency act was amended again towards the end of that year.{{cite book|title="100 Years of Mint (Material)"|publisher=Ministry of Finance|year=1971|page=14}}

This amendment known as Daijo-kan Declaration No. 46. was implemented in February 1873 (year 6).{{cite web|url=http://pepper.cool.coocan.jp/round/ryu_20sen.htm|title=竜二十銭銀貨 Dragon 20 Sen (Silver)|work=Pepper's Square|language=Japanese|accessdate=December 22, 2020}} Issues addressed included conforming the weights of the silver subsidiary currency to be proportional to the silver yen. Fifty sen coins were given a new design, were made to be thicker, were reduced from 31.75mm to 30.9mm, and had their weight increased from 193 (12.51g) to 208 grains (13.47g). The second design used is called {{nihongo|dragon silver 50 sen|竜五十銭銀貨}} as the sunburst on the reverse was replaced by a wreath. Latin script is used for the first time with "50 SEN" on the obverse under the dragon, and the medallic orientation was flipped.{{cite book|title=New Revised Money Notebook, History and Collection Guide for Japanese Coins|author=Reiji Aoyama|publisher=Bonanza|year=1982|pages=180–182}} Very few fifty sen coins were minted between 1874 and 1876 as Japan unsuccessfully attempted to adopt a gold standard. At the time, Meiji Tsuho notes were circulating as fiat currency, and notes issued by Japan's national banks were redeemable for gold. The latter of these notes were also made inconvertible in August 1876 as the rising price of gold became an issue.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCrjdhV0dOkC&dq=Japan+one+yen+note+August+1876+gold&pg=PA171|title=Bank Notes in the 1871 System|work=The Merchants' Handbook of Money, Weights and Measures, with Their British Equivalents|author=W. A. Browne|publisher=E. Stanford|year=1899|pages=171–172}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Qd5MEyyTycC&dq=Japan+one+yen+note+August+1876+gold&pg=PA102|title=Paths toward the Modern Fiscal State|author=Wenkai He|publisher=Harvard University Press|year=2013|page=102|isbn=9780674074637}} National Bank Notes were later printed in large amounts to pay for the Satsuma Rebellion which occurred in February 1877. This in turn led to massive inflation as inconvertible National Bank Notes lost their value against silver and gold coinage. The silver one yen coin was brought back into domestic commerce as a hopeful remedy on May 27, 1878 switching Japan to a de facto silver standard. It is recorded by Edward Reed that production of fifty sen coins continued until at least June 30, 1878.{{cite web|url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/993256|title="Meiji Financial History (Volume 11) Currency"|author=Meiji Financial History Compilation Society|publisher=Meiji Financial History Publishing Office|year=1905|pages=449–451}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q0PxAaKMSp8C&dq=Japan+5+sen+coin+1878&pg=PA154|title=The City of Osaka|work=Japan: Its History, Traditions, and Religions (With the Narrative of a Visit in 1879)|author=Edward Reed|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2012|page=154|isbn=9781108045698}}

The issuance of national fiat banknotes was ultimately suspended in 1880 by then prime minister Matsukata Masayoshi.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J-wNAQAAMAAJ&dq=Satsuma+Rebellion+payment+December+1877&pg=PA31|title=Reserve Paper Money and Temporary Loan for the Redemption of Paper Money|work=Japanese Monographs|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1922|issue=4|page=32}} Fifty sen coins that were minted before this time were later exchanged for these discontinued notes.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BOJG7GJkF0sC&q=20+sen+note+June+30+1887&pg=PA324|title=Annual Report of the Director of the Mint|author=United States Mint|publisher=United States Department of the Treasury|year=1901|page=324}}{{cite web|url=https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2947083/9|title=国立銀行紙幣の通用及引換期限に関する法律|work=Ministry of Finance (Japan)|access-date=December 27, 2020}} Only proof strikes were made for coins dated 1880 (year 13) for exclusive use in presentation sets.{{cite web|url=https://coins.ha.com/itm/japan/meiji-proof-50-sen-year-13-1880-pr63-ngc-/a/3051-34335.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Archive-ThisAuction-120115|title=Meiji Proof 50 Sen Year 13 (1880)|work=Heritage Auctions|accessdate=November 23, 2021}} During the next few years, Japan experienced a sharp drop in prices and contraction of the economy in response to high inflation caused by the Satsuma Rebellion.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e9DzAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA393|title=Annual Report of the Director of the Mint|author=United States. Bureau of the Mint|publisher=Department of the Treasury|year=1900|pages=392–393}} The Bank of Japan was established in 1882 (year 15) to remedy the situation, and two years later convertible banknotes were issued. An imperial ordinance was issued in June 1885 stating that silver payments would be resumed after January 1, 1886.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djJRAQAAMAAJ&dq=Japan+20+sen+coin+issued+1890&pg=PA14|title=Public Policy: A Journal for the Correct Understanding of Public Questions and the Development of Good Citizenship|author=Alan Ripley Foote|volume=2|year=1900|pages=14–15}} Fifty sen coins were not produced again until 1897, when the Japanese government promulgated the "currency law" (Meiji 30 Law No. 16) which replaced the previous "new currency act". This new law abolished the silver yen at which subsidiary silver coins were previously fixed at, and officially switched Japan from a silver standard to a gold standard. No changes were made to fifty sen coins as they were re-established to their previous weight, size, and design.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I8QWAAAAYAAJ&q=20+yen+%221897%22&pg=PA23|title=The Coinage Law of Japan, Enacted in 1897|pages=23–25|author1=Japan|year=1897}}

Production continued as the price of silver bullion remained steady throughout the rest of the century. This changed when silver bullion began to rise sharply in 1903 (year 36) which threatened to exceed the face value of the fifty sen coin.{{cite web|url=http://pepper.cool.coocan.jp/round/ryu_20sen.htm|title=竜二十銭銀貨 Dragon 20 Sen (Silver)|work=Pepper's Square|language=Japanese|accessdate=November 23, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://pepper.cool.coocan.jp/round/asahi_50sen.htm|title=旭日五十銭銀貨 Rising Sun 50 Sen (Silver)|work=Pepper's Square|language=Japanese|accessdate=November 23, 2021}} It was reported by 1904 that fifty sen coins were not commonly seen in circulation.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/aroundworldthrou00delmiala|quote=Japan one rin coin.|title=Around the World Through Japan|author=Walter Del Mar|publisher=A. and C. Black|year=1904|page=[https://archive.org/details/aroundworldthrou00delmiala/page/136 136]|access-date=June 12, 2017}} An amendment to the "currency law" was promulgated as a remedy in March 1906 which lowered fifty sen coins from 30.9mm to 27.3mm, and their weight from 13.47g to 10.12 grams.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jHE9AQAAMAAJ&dq=Japan+20+sen+1890&pg=PA336|title=The Japan Daily Mail|year=1906|page=228}} The third and final design used during the Meiji era on these now smaller coins is called {{Nihongo|rising sun 50 sen|旭日50銭銀貨|Asahi Nijusen}}, as a sunburst design on the reverse was restored. The wreath design previously used on the back side of the dragon coins was adopted for the obverse.

During the reign of Emperor Taishō, the Japanese government initially issued silver coinage as had been done previously under Meiji. Japan eventually received a booming economy from the start of World War I due to a large trade surplus.{{cite web|url=https://www.buntetsu.net/mbc/e_taisho05.htm|title=大正50銭券|publisher=Buntetsu|language=ja|access-date=December 19, 2020}} The negative effects from this event included an increased demand for subsidiary coins which led to a coin shortage.{{cite web|url=http://pepper.cool.coocan.jp/round/kiri_1sen_seidou.htm|title=桐一銭青銅貨 Kiri 1 Sen (Bronze)|work=Pepper's Square|access-date=October 18, 2020}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_kfPAAAAMAAJ&q=50+sen+coin+shortage&pg=PA234|title=Annual Report of the Director of the Mint|author=United States Department of the Treasury|publisher=Bureau of the Mint|year=1918|page=234}} Silver bullion to make silver subsidiary coins also rose above their face value which posed a financial challenge to the mint. To remedy the situation, an imperial ordinance was promulgated on October 29, 1917 that authorized fractional currency in the amount of thirty million yen.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nLf1Bb5NhOwC&q=japan+10+sen+note++Imperial+Ordinance+No.+202+of+1917&pg=PA260|title=Annual Report of the Director of the Mint|author=United States Department of the Treasury|publisher=Bureau of the Mint|year=1919|page=260}} Actual issuance occurred in the following month with the notes being legal tender up to ten yen.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tyl3HAA_VTEC&q=10+sen+coin+shortage&pg=RA1-PA120|title=Money (coinage)|work=Standard Daily Trade Service|year=1918|publisher=Standard Statistics Company|page=120}} No fifty sen coins were struck for circulation until 1922 (year 11) when the notes were discontinued in favor of silver coinage. During this lapse, an amendment was placed into effect on May 1, 1918 which legally lowered the weight of the fifty sen coin if more coins had been struck.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8xLaKU5jdvUC&dq=50+sen+1918&pg=PA257|title=Laws Affecting the Currency|work=Annual Report of the Director of the Mint|publisher=Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Mint|year=1919|pages=257–258}} The silver content of the fifty sen coin was ultimately lowered to 72% by "Law No. 73" of April 1922. The law also reduced the size of fifty sen coins from 27.3mm to 23.5mm, and their weight was changed from 10.12g to 4.95 grams.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ltVmuwCDUt8C&dq=50+sen+1922&pg=RA9-PA75|title=Japan|work=Leather in the British Empire: Production, Trade, and Raw Materials|author=Julius Gabriel Schnitzer|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1932|pages=74–75}} During this time a third and final silver design was adopted for fifty sen coins called {{Nihongo|"Phoenix 50 sen"|鳳凰五十銭}}. The naming comes from two phoenix birds present on the reverse side of the coin flanking the coin's value. The obverse side of the coin features a sunburst flanked by cherry blossoms with the date and reigning emperor within the sacred mirror.{{cite web|url=https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/japan-50-sen-y-46-yr.111922-yr.151926-cuid-1202589-duid-1443756|title=Japan 50 Sen Y# 46 Yr.11(1922)|work=Numismatic Guaranty Corporation|access-date=November 24, 2021}} These coins were struck with Taishō's name on them until his death in 1926 (year 15).

The production of Fifty sen coins resumed under Emperor Shōwa in 1928 (year 3), and continued uninterrupted until the late 1930s. Japan found itself in conflict when the Marco Polo Bridge Incident occurred in July 1937 (year 12 of Shōwa). This incident would eventually lead to the gradual occupation of Chinese territory by the Japanese as the Second Sino-Japanese War. The National Mobilization Law was legislated in the Diet of Japan by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe on March 24, 1938 to prepare the country for a potentially prolonged war. Konoe's action led to the promulgation of the "Temporary Currency Law" which came into effect on June 1, 1938.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tu1VY7zA5CQC&q=Japan+5+sen+coin+nickel+1932&pg=PA76|title=Money, Banking, and Credit|work=Civil Affairs Handbook: Taiwan (Formosa) Economic Supplement|author=Office of the Chief of Naval Operations|publisher=United States Department of the Navy|year=1944|page=76}} The production of fifty sen coins was suspended in favor of banknotes as the Japanese government wanted to redeem their precious silver alloy.{{cite book|title=Showa Financial History (Volume 9) Currency/Prices|author=Ministry of Finance Showa Financial History Editing Office|publisher=Toyo Keizai Inc|year=1956|pages=147–150}}{{cite book|title=The Story of Japanese Money|author=Shigetaka Hisamitsu|publisher=Mainichi Shimbun|year=1976|pages=212–213}}{{ASIN|B000J9VAPQ|country=jp}} No more fifty sen coins were struck until after the war due to the prohibitive price and availability of silver. When World War II finally ended, a large amount of brass was left over from war material used to make aircraft.{{cite web|url=https://www.buntetsu.net/mbc/cms05.htm|title=50銭黄銅貨|work=Buntetsu|language=ja|access-date=January 2, 2021}} The Japanese government made do with the situation by using the alloy to produce fifty sen coins in 1946 until the brass supplies eventually ran out. Fifty sen coins were eventually demonetized at the end of 1953 when the Japanese government passed a law abolishing subsidiary coinage in favor of the yen.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020628033108/http://www.shugiin.go.jp/itdb_housei.nsf/html/houritsu/01619530715060.htm|url=http://www.shugiin.go.jp/itdb_housei.nsf/html/houritsu/01619530715060.htm|archivedate=June 28, 2002|title=小額通貨の整理及び支払金の端数計算に関する法律|trans-title=A law of the abolition of currencies in a small denomination and rounding off a fraction, July 15, 1953 Law No.60|publisher=www.shugiin.go.jp|accessdate=December 5, 2016}} Currencies of less than one yen were rarely used by this time due to excessive post-war inflation.{{cite web|url=https://www.boj.or.jp/announcements/education/oshiete/money/c24.htm/|title=1円未満のお金が使えなくなったのはいつからですか？|work=Bank of Japan|language=Japanese|accessdate=October 27, 2020}} Fifty sen coins now share their legacy with the 5 yen coin as they both use the same post-World War II era alloy.{{cite book|title=Currency of Japan -Guidance for Collection-|publisher=Japan Coin and Merchants Cooperative|year=2010|pages=184–186}}

File:50sen-M3.jpg

File:50sen-M6.jpg

File:50sen-M39.jpg

The following are circulation figures for the coins that were minted between the 3rd, and the 45th and last year of Meiji's reign. Coins for this period all begin with the Japanese symbol 明治 (Meiji).

• Inscriptions on Japanese coins from this period are read clockwise from right to left:

"Year" ← "Number representing year of reign" ← "Emperor's name" (Ex: 年 ← 五十三 ← 治明)

File:50sen-M39.jpg

File:50sen-T11.jpg

The following are circulation figures for the coins that were minted between the 1st and the 15th (and last) year of Taishō's reign. Coins from this period all begin with the Japanese symbol 大正 (Taishō).

• Inscriptions on Japanese coins from this period are read clockwise from right to left:

:"Year" ← "Number representing year of reign" ← "Emperor's name" (Ex: 年 ← 三十 ← 正大)

File:50sen-T11.jpg (Shōwa).}}]]

File:50sen-S21.jpg

File:50sen-S22.jpg

The following are circulation figures for coins minted between the 3rd and the 23rd year of Emperor Shōwa's reign. Coins from this period all begin with the Japanese symbol 昭和 (Shōwa).

• Inscriptions on Japanese coins from this period are read clockwise from right to left:

:"Year" ← "Number representing year of reign" ← "Emperor's name" (Ex: 年 ← 二十 ← 和昭)

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The value of any given coin is determined by survivability rate and condition as collectors in general prefer uncleaned appealing coins. Fifty sen coins lasted through three different imperial eras from 1870 to 1948. The first coins minted in 1870 and 1871 use the {{nihongo|rising sun dragon|旭日竜|Asahi Ryu}} design. Two major varieties in particular stand out for these as one has a 19mm circle of dots around the dragon on the obverse, while the other is 21mm.

Fifty sen coins minted with dates reading 1874 to 1877 (year 7 to 10 of Meiji) are all extremely rare. Numismatist Cornelius Vermeule had once indicated that coins dated 1874 (year 7) did not exist before examples were found. One coin in particular in MS-62 condition sold for $48,000 (USD) at auction in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-96DBT/japan-50-sen-year-7-1874-ngc-ms-62|title=Extremely Rare and Highly Coveted 1874 50 Sen|work=Stack's Bowers Galleries|accessdate=November 27, 2021}} The Smithsonian Institution through the National Museum of American History also has an example in proof condition.{{cite web|url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1841008|title=50 Sen, Proof, Japan, 1874|work=National Museum of American History|accessdate=November 27, 2021}} There are no known records of extant coins dated 1875 (year 8), this date also has the lowest recorded mintage of the entire fifty sen series. Coins dated 1876 (year 9) only survive now in proof condition, and may have been used for presentation sets.{{cite web|url=https://coins.ha.com/itm/japan/japan-meiji-silver-proof-50-sen-year-9-1876-/a/3015-24332.s|title=Meiji silver Proof 50 Sen Year 9 (1876)|work=Heritage Auctions|accessdate=November 27, 2021}} There are two varieties for this year with the stem design on the reverse that aren't a factor to the coin's rarity.{{efn|Varieties are negligible here as there are very few 1876 (year 9) dated coins known.}} An example sold at auction for $54,625 (USD) in MS-65 condition at auction in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgs.com/valueview/50-sen-1870-1948/1876-m9-50-sen-jnda-01-14-stem-cut-facing-down/4809?sn=500560&h=pop|title=1876 M9 50 Sen JNDA 01-14 Stem Cut Facing Down (Regular Strike)|work=PCGS|accessdate=November 27, 2021}} Fifty sen coins dated 1877 (year 10) have the highest mintage of the four but are nonetheless included in rarity. An example graded "VF Details" due to environmental damage sold for $3,450 (USD) at auction in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://coins.ha.com/itm/japan/japan-meiji-50-sen-year-10-1877-/a/3019-25024.s?hdnJumpToLot=1&x=0&y=0|title=Meiji 50 Sen Year 10 (1877)|work=Heritage Auctions|accessdate=November 27, 2021}} Fifty sen coins dated 1880 (year 13) were never intended for circulation and have an estimated survival of 5 to 6 pieces out of the 179 originally minted. A unique circulated example graded VF-35 sold at auction in September 2011 for $48,875 (USD).{{cite web|url=https://coins.ha.com/itm/japan/japan-meiji-silver-50-sen-year-13-1880-/a/3015-24334.s?hdnJumpToLot=1&x=0&y=0|title=Meiji silver 50 Sen Year 13 (1880)|work=Heritage Auctions|accessdate=November 28, 2021}}

Early silver fifty sen coins have often been counterfeited, so grading by an expert is recommended for collectors.

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