how do you know what year this Japanese money is from and what variety?

notlogical · March 8, 2009 5:52AM

There was an Estate Sale at our neighbors house today and I bought this World War II Japanese money.

I tried looking it up in the World Catalog but I couldn't figure out what year they were. I noticed that the 5 sen coins had three varities. What's the difference in the three?

Sorry the pictures look blurry.

ormandh · March 8, 2009 6:09AM

Look at the beginning of the Japan section. It will show you how to read the dates. You will need to know what the symbols are. Some of the catalogues do not have this chart in them hopefully yours does. Hope this helps. -Dan

satootoko · March 8, 2009 6:15AM

Your pictures are too small and indistinct for me to read the dates. They are in Japanese characters, and give the regnal year date of the Emperor, which is easily converted to western dates.

Click >here< for the best guide to dating Japanese coins on the web.

The 5 centavo notes and the one peso are Phillipine Occupation currency from 1942-45.

The ¥10 is a Bank of Japan note. I can't tell from your picture whether it is a series 1930 or a series 1946, but I suspect the latter from the grouping in which you found it.

Edited to add: The three varieties of Y#60/60a/60b differ in their weight. The original 1.2g (1940-41) was reduced to 1g (1941-42) and then to .8g (1943). From 1940 through the end of the war there were a total of seven 5 sen coins, in aluminum-bronze, aluminum, tin-zinc, and an experimental type variously described as porcelain or baked clay created in the last few days of the war and generally believed to have never circulated.

notlogical · March 8, 2009 6:52AM

Wow! Thanks for the great information! I'm going to go weigh mine right now. thanks again every body!

notlogical · March 9, 2009 6:06AM

One of the 5 sen coins weighed 1 g, the other 2 1.2 grams. Is that the 60a? Is it more valuable?

Stork · March 9, 2009 9:18AM

I don't have a Krause handy, but my older JNDA catalog (I've misplaced my 2008 and my 2009 is on the way), but the value of these in non-mint state coins are all pretty low.

The 1.2 gram version has dates of 1940 and 1941 (Showa 15 and 16) with the 1940 being the 'better date'. (3,000 vs 1,000 yen for the gems)

The 1.0 gram version has dates of 1941 and 1942 (S. 16 and 17) with 1941 being the more valuable. (11,000 yen vs 400 yen in gem)

The .8 gram is 1943 (S. 18) and is of lower value.

These are old numbers but you get the idea.

Are you getting interested in Japanese coins in particular now?

Cathy

eta the circulated ones are in the 30-300 yen range--around a quarter to $2.50.

satootoko · March 9, 2009 12:45PM

<< <i>my older JNDA catalog (I've misplaced my 2008 and my 2009 is on the way), but the value of these in non-mint state coins are all pretty low. >>

No significant changes in the 2009 catalog.

how do you know what year this Japanese money is from and what variety?

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