100-Yen Coin Day
Historical AnniversariesWhat Is 100-Yen Coin Day?
December 11th is "100-Yen Coin Day" in Japan. It marks December 11, 1957, when the 100-yen coin was issued for the first time. Until then, 100 yen circulated as a banknote bearing the portrait of Taisuke Itagaki; this was the first time it took the form of a coin.
The First 100-Yen Coin Was Silver
The coin that appeared in 1957 was also the first silver coin issued in postwar Japan.
- Issued: December 11, 1957
- Composition: 60% silver, 30% copper, 10% zinc -- a high denomination for a coin at the time
- Design: a phoenix on the obverse, the rising sun and cherry blossoms on the reverse
- Diameter: 22.6 mm, the same as today's coin
From Phoenix to Rice Ears to Cherry Blossoms
The design changed twice in a short span. In 1959 the phoenix was replaced by ears of rice, though the coin remained silver. In 1967 the current version appeared, switching from silver to cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) and adopting three cherry blossoms. The material changed because the price of silver had risen. The blossom on today's coin is the yamazakura, one of Japan's representative cherry varieties.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Look at the 100-yen coins in your wallet and check their mint years
- Compare the plants and patterns on each denomination
- Sort out your loose change for the year-end and open the coin jar
- Think about how cashless payment has changed your use of coins
Always in Your Pocket, Rarely Looked At
Few people can say offhand what is engraved on a coin they handle every day. December 11th is a day to take a closer look at the one in your hand.