Japan Coins
The official currency of Japan is the Japanese yen, which has been the country's currency since 1871. The Japanese monetary system has evolved significantly over the centuries, reflecting the country's rich history and culture.
Current currency in circulation
The modern Japanese yen is divided into 100 sen, although sen coins are no longer in use. Coins in circulation include denominations of 1, 5, 10, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen. Current banknotes come in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 yen. The Bank of Japan is responsible for issuing and controlling the currency, ensuring its stability and value in the global economy.
Monetary history and relevant facts
Before the introduction of the yen, Japan used a complex monetary system based on gold, silver and copper coins. The Koban, an oval gold coin, was one of the most famous coins of this period. In 1869, after the Meiji Restoration, Japan began to modernize its monetary system. An important milestone was the adoption of the gold standard in 1897, which helped stabilize the Japanese economy and facilitated international trade. During World War II, Japan issued occupation money in several conquered territories, a fascinating chapter in Japanese numismatics.
| Country | Japan |
| Flag | |
| Coin | Yen (JPY) |
| 1€ | 162,75¥ |
| Continent | Asia |
| Capital city | Tokyo |
| ISO2 | JP |
| ISO3 | JPN |
| Catalogued coins | 770 |
If you are a passionate collector, this catalog offers the possibility to create your own personal collection. You can add your coins and generate a free PDF catalog from a complete database and our management tools. In addition, once registered, you will have the opportunity to exchange coins with other collectors around the world easily and free of charge.
The most valuable coins
The most valuable Japan coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Coin Catalog
1000 yenes (Setonaikai National Park)
10000 yenes (150th anniversary of the Japanese postal system)
10000 yenes (30th anniversary of the enthronement of Heise)
1000 yenes (50th anniversary of the Okinawa reversion)
10000 yenes (50th anniversary of the Okinawa reversion)
1000 yenes (Unzen-Amakusa National Park)
1000 yenes (150th anniversary of the railroad in Japan)
10000 yenes (150th anniversary of the modern monetary system)
5000 yenes (150th anniversary of the modern monetary system)
500 yenes (World Expo 2025, Japan)
1000 yenes (Kirishima-Kinkowan national park)
10000 yenes (150th anniversary of the Japanese postal system)
1000 yenes (World Expo 2025, Japan)
1 mon (Kan'ei)
1 mon (Ka-nei Tsu-ho)
1 mon (Bun Edo)
4 mon (Kan'ei)
100 mon (Tenpo Suho)
2 yen (圓 二 - Meiji era. Mutsuhito)
20 yen ( 圓 十 二 - Meiji era. Mutsuhito)
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Japan
Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.