2 sen coin

The 2 sen coin (二銭硬貨) was a Japanese coin worth one-fiftieth of a Japanese yen, as 100 sen equalled 1 yen.[2]

Two Sen
Japan
Value​ 1⁄50 Japanese yen
Mass(1873–1877) 14.3 g
(1877–1892) 14.26 g
(1912–1925) Unknown g
EdgePlain
ShapeCircular
CompositionBronze (1873–1892)[1]
Brass (1912–1925)
Years of minting1873–1884[lower-alpha 1]
1892
1912–1925
Obverse
DesignDragon figure surrounded by legend.[lower-alpha 2]
Reverse
DesignEmblem of the Imperial family.

Circulation figures
2 sen coin from 1873 (year 6)

Meiji

The following are circulation figures for the two sen coin, all of which were minted between the 6th, and 25th year of Meiji's reign. The dates all begin with the Japanese symbol 明治 (Meiji), followed by the year of his reign the coin was minted. Each coin is read clockwise from right to left, so in the example used below "九" would read as "year 9" or 1876. Two sen coins were struck in 1892, but none were released for circulation.

  • "Year" ← "Number representing year of reign" ← "Emperors name" (Ex: 年 ← 九 ← 治明)
Year of reign Japanese date Gregorian date Mintage
6th 六 1873 3,949,758[3]
7th 七 1874 Unknown[3]
8th 八 1875 22,835,255[3]
9th 九 1876 25,817,570[3]
10th 十 1877 (Square scales)[lower-alpha 3] 33,097,868[4]
10th 十 1877 (V-scales) 43,290,398[5]
13th 三十 1880 33,142,307[6]
14th 四十 1881 38,475,569[6]
15th 五十 1882 43,572,187[6]
16th 六十 1883 19,476,164[6]
17th 七十 1884 12,090,586[6]
25th 五十二 1892 Not circulated[6]

Post-1892

Little is known about two sen coins minted after 1892 other than their composition of brass, and alleged minting dates of 1912 to 1925. These coins are included in the Standard Catalog of World Coins by Krause Publications, where they are all marked as "rare".[7] The pieces appear to be crudely struck with only Japanese inscriptions visible on each side. Circulation figures for these coins are unknown.

Notes
  1. No coins were minted between 1877 and 1880
  2. In numismatic terminology, a "legend" is a formal inscription found around the margin of a coin.
  3. Two varieties were made in 1877 regarding the dragon's body on the obverse side of the coin. One variety has the dragon with "square" scales, while the later variety has the dragon with "V" scales.

References
  1. "2銭銅貨". www.buntetsu.net (in Japanese). Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  2. "Japan 5, 10, 20, 50 Sen and 1 Yen (Fakes are possible) 1873 to 1900". www.coinquest.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  3. "Japan 2 Sen (1873 to 1876)". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  4. "Japan 2 Sen Y# 18.1 Yr.10(1877)". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  5. "Japan 2 Sen Y# 18.2 Yr.10(1877)". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  6. "Japan 2 Sen (1880 to 1892)". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  7. "Japan 2 Sen KM# L12 (1912-25) Rare". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
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