5 Rin (Bronze)
五厘青銅貨

Above picture: Minted in Taisho 5, Diameter:18.80mm　Weight:2.02g

Data

Three kinds of modern Copper coins were issued from Meiji 6, but it was interrupted due to sufficient amount were circulated. When the currency system was renewed in Meiji 30, new designs of copper coins for low face value were stipulated, however, they are not issued for a while.
The design of 5 rin stipulated in Meiji 30 is the same as 1/2 sen, the changed point is the expression of face value and the material. The fave value was changed from "1/2 sen" to "5 rin", which means the same value. Materials is changed from copper to bronze, according to the the trend of copper based coins in the world.
In Meiji 32, new design using paulownia and arabesque for the new pattern, but still not issued since they concentrated on issuing the new gold and silver coins.
After entering Taisho Era, the inflation caused by WW-I pushed the demand of low face value coins. This 5 rin were issued with the review of design and size. The size of this coin was reduced drastically from 3.564g to 2.1g due the inflation in economy.
The units for coins such as length, weight were changed from "Shaku-Kan" (Japanese unit system from Edo era) to metric system.
World War I ended in 1918 (Taisho 10) and significant depression had come and continued to Great Depression around 1930. The demand decreased and issuance of this coin stopped. This coin became the last 5 sen or harl sen issued in Japan.

Mintage number is 40 million, not so many, however, circulation of this coin was not active since 1 Sen tended to deem as minimum unit of currency, due to the inflation. This coin of fine grade would be got for 100 or 200 yen.

Due to the short production period, many coins were put in dead storage including uncirculated ones.
As the result, uncirculated coins and/or the ones which have an original glittering can be got more reasonably compared with other copper coins, for example, one or two thousand yen.

Released: Apr 16, 2022