Mt. Fuji 1 Sen (Aluminum)
富士一銭アルミニウム貨

Year: Showa 16,　0.63 g,　16.05 mm

Data

Issued / Banned: Showa 16 (1938) / Showa 28 (1953)
Manufacturing Period: Showa 16 (1938) - Showa 18 (1940)
Number of Mintage: 2,927,240,000
- Former period (Jan Showa 16 to Jan Showa 18：2,300,080,000
- Latter period (Feb to Aug Showa 18)： 627,160,000
Material:　Aluminum:1000
Diameter:　16.00 mm
Weight:
- Former period: 0.65 g
- Latter period: 0.55 g
Design: Face - Crest of chrysanthemum and paulownia, Octagonal mirror, Ocean wave / Back - Cherry blossom and "Yatagarasu" (Sacred Crow)

In 1935 ( Japanese military did not recognize the importance of airplane, however, the situation gradually changed and the demand of aluminum got high and the Fuji 1 Sen was issued, which weigh around half of Karasu 1 Sen.
Mt. FUji, Cloud and Crest of chrysanthemum are used for the face design. This cloud is called "Zui un" which
In those days Mt. Fuji was used as a symbol of "Hakkou Ichiu" (The simple meaning is "All countries will be one world", however, this word was used to justify Japanese invasion of to surrounding countries during WW II).
The weight of this coin was reduced rom 0.65 to 0.55 due to the lack of material. Finally the government could not continue to produce the aluminum coins and 1 Sen (Tin Lead) was issued instead.

Tremendous number of coins were issued in short term and the value of currency became one hundreds after WW II. Many coins were deadly stored. We can get this coin of common grade for a low price, less than 100 Yen.

0.55g is the lightest coin in modern Japanese coins, its weight is about a half of 1 Yen (Aluminum) currently used.
Except for the coins currently used, this coin was produced the most in the modern Japanese coins. Especially in terms of productivity, 2 billion coins were produced in 2 and a half years, it is far higher than the other modern coins ever issued.
Since the wartime shortage become worse, Japanese government tried to apply tin or porcelain for coins which are not suitable

Released: Apr 30, 2022