Japanese currency has beautiful designs. If you see them, you’ll find elaborate designs on them. Every country or region has its own currency and the currency represents something important for the country/ region. So now, let’s learn & enjoy some things about Japanese history.
1 yen (coin)
This coin is the oldest currency among the present currency of Japan. The first 1-yen coins were made in 1955. The designs of both sides of the coin were chosen from the public. The design of the front is a young tree, which represents the growth of Japan.
5 yen (coin)
This coin was first issued in 1959. It has a hall in the middle, looks like a doughnut. The color is yellow-gold. Water, a gear, and an ear of rice are drawn on the front side, and a sprout on the back.
10 yen (coin)
This coin was also issued in 1959. It is made of bronze. On the front side, you can see a beautiful building, which is called Byodo-in Ho-oh do. It is in Uji, Kyoto prefecture and is registered as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Also on the front side, you can see arabesque patterns around the letters. On the back, evergreen leaves are designed.
50 yen (coin)
The shape and design of this coin changed before. The first 50 yen coins appeared in 1955, at that time, it had no halls and was larger than now. But later, 100 yen coin was issued and the color and the size were similar to each other and confusing, then 50 yen coins were redesigned. In 1967, at the same time of creation of 100 yen coin, the new version of 50 yen coin was issued with a hall in the middle. On the front, chrysanthemum are designed.
100 yen (coin)
This coin was also issued in 1967. Before this year, 100 yen coins were made of silver, but as the price of silver got higher, they changed silver into nickel. The design has also its history. The original 100 yen coins were designed with ho-oh, which is a Chinese phoenix and then an ear of rice, and finally cherry blossoms, the current one.
500 yen (coin)
500 yen coin is the newest of these 6. With the spread of vending machines, the prices of the products which people could buy with the machines got higher. At that time, they didn’t have 500 yen coin; they only had 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 yen coins. To respond to the demand of the coins over 100 yen, 500 yen coins was issued in 1982. You can see some paulownias on the front. On the other side, bamboos are designed on its top and bottom, and two citrus tachibana on its right and left. The material of this coin changed into nickel bras in 2000 to prevent falsification.
Which coin should you have the most?
Japanese people use cash more than credit/ debit cards because it’s common and there are not so many shops/ restaurants which take cards for the payment. In terms of coins, I think 100 yen coins are the most frequently used one in Japan. You don’t have to have many 5 and 50 yen coins. If you want to exchange your currency into Japanese ones, you should get bills and ten 100 yen coins. 100 yen is roughly about 1 dollar, and some snacks or breads, onigiri ( a rice ball) are just for 100 yen. Try to confirm what you can get for 100 yen is an interesting way to enjoy Japan, I think.
