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Japan, 1870-1950


​1/2 SEN
 JNDA 01-53.  The half sen was minted non-continuously from M6 (1873) through M21 (1888).  One sen is 1/100 of the yen, and the characters across the top on the reverse translate to '200 pieces in exchange for 1 yen'.

The denomination has two basic style of obverse, with the earlier style having a dragon with 'squared' appearing scales. Later issues have a 'sharp' scale style with one year overlapping with both styles (year M.10/1877).  The reverse features the typical double foliage wreath, tied at the bottom and with the Chrysanthemum crest at the top.


Copper alloy, 22.2 mm diameter, 3.56 grams. ​
Picture
Meiji year 6 (1873) NGC MS-63RB.
'Square' dragon scales example.

The 1877 'square' scaled dragon is much scarcer. 

Picture
Meiji year 18 (1885), NGC-66 RB.
'V' shaped dragon scales.

Picture
Meiji year 7 is notable for a variant.  

The dragon's coil is thicker on the specimen on the top, which is the 'early' version of the design (as is the year six coin above).

 The 'late' version has a thinner inner loop, thus a larger gap between the loops, and this is how the subsequent years' coils appear (until the change to the sharp style).

The thick coil/early version is the more scarce.

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Japan
1870-1950
Dating etc.

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  • Home
  • World Coins
    • Albania >
      • Albanian Coins
      • Zog's Albania
    • Japan >
      • Japan--General
      • Reading Japanese coins
      • pre 1870
      • 1870-1950 >
        • rin
        • 5 rin
        • 1/2 sen
        • sen
        • 2 sen
        • 5 sen
        • 10 sen
        • 20 sen
        • 50 sen
        • yen (obsolete)
        • Trade Dollar
      • 1948-date >
        • yen (current)
        • 5 yen
        • 10 yen
        • 50 yen
        • 100 yen
        • 500 yen
        • commemorative coins
      • Gold coins
      • error coins
      • Dansco Japan Type set
    • Europe >
      • Italy
    • The Americas >
      • Uruguay
    • Ancients
  • Exonumia
    • Conder Tokens >
      • Conder Tokens (page 1)
      • Conder Tokens (page 2)
    • Medallic Art >
      • Mothers/children
      • Dogs
      • Horses
      • Mythology
      • Birds
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • (testing pages)
    • Extra World Coins
    • Extra Bullion Coins
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