Japan Type Set #7460
Showa, 1 sen, tin, 1944-1945

Owner Comments:

JNDA 01-52. The final metal based 1 sen coin produced. At the final part of the war the coin was produced from planchets of a *tin alloy. It has a simple design with the obverse showing the issuing authority ('Dai Nippon') vertically and the date along the bottom. The reverse has a central chrysanthemum dividing the denomination vertically and with sprigs around.

The reactive metal makes finding these in good condition quite challenging.

The next type of 1 sen coin was never released. As metals became scarcer the mint began experimenting with porcelain coins (produced by potters under contract). The porcelain issues were never released, but are available.

Diameter 15 mm, *tin-zinc, weight 1.3 grams.
*the JNDA and the album both merely state tin, vs. tin-zinc notations found elsewhere.