Owner Comments:
JNDA 01-18. The 50 sen had not been minted in several years but was brought back in the post war period. This is the 'large size' first produced. It was officially minted in two years, S21 and S22 (1946 and 1947), per one reference the metal was recovered from spent shell casings. The S22 were apparently never released as the melt value was more than the face value. Thus, the S22 dated coins are a rarity.
The design elements on the obverse represent agriculture (rice), fishing, industry (gear) and mining (pick), coupled with the Arabic numbers. The reverse has a chrysanthemum, plus a bird that is listed as a 'dove' in the Dansco album. However, it is more likely the ho-ō (Japanese 'phoenix'), not a dove.
The coin was produced after the war but before the new constitution and government. Thus, the legend seen above the Arabic number '50' reads 'Nippon seifu' or 'Government of Japan' which was a transitory legend.
The year 21 coins have an interesting die clash variant where the outline of the obverse's gear and the rice stalks can be seen. The rice stalks appear 'ray-like'.
Diameter 23.50, brass, weight 4.50 grams.