Japan’s five-yen and fifty-yen coins are perforated or have holes in them and are unique legal tender recognized by their distinct central holes and cultural significance.
Japanese five-yen coins are made of brass (copper and zinc), it features a smooth edge and a central hole. The obverse displays a rice plant, water, and a gear (representing agriculture, fisheries, and industry), while the reverse shows tree sprouts.
It is the only coin in Japanese circulation that does not feature Arabic numerals; the value is written entirely in Japanese kanji.
The word for five-yen sounds identical to the word for good fate or destiny and is considered lucky charm, frequently tossed into temple and shrine offering boxes, or given as gifts inside new wallets.
Whereas, the Japanese fifty-yen coins are minted from cupronickel (copper-nickel alloy), this shiny, silver-colored coin also features a clean central hole. The obverse is decorated with chrysanthemum flowers, while the reverse clearly displays the number “fifty” alongside the year of manufacture.
Why the Hole?
The original fifty-yen coins minted in 1955 did not have a hole and closely resembled the hundred-yen coin. A hole was added in 1959 (and updated in 1967) to make it easily distinguishable from the one hundred-yen coin piece.
The distinct central holes on both coins help visually impaired individuals quickly identify and differentiate them by touch.
While fifty-yen coins are readily accepted by modern vending machines and cashiers, five-yen coins cannot be used in most vending machines and are best saved for shrine donations, souvenir purchases, or exact-change transactions with local merchants.
Like the five-yen coin, the fifty-yen coin can be easily distinguished by the hole in the center. This wasn’t always the case though. Japan figured it could kill three birds with one hole. First, it helps to save on material costs. Secondly, it makes them more difficult to counterfeit. Finally, it helps people tell them apart more easily, even simply by touch.
It’s said that the five-yen coin was primarily given a hole to save materials following the war when rapid inflation was occurring.
On the other hand, the fifty-yen coin was given a hole because for the first couple years of its non-perforated existence, it was annoyingly similar to a one hundred-yen coin. As the two coins became even more similar over the years in terms of material and images (the fifty-yen coin has a chrysanthemum whereas the one hundred-yen coin has a sakura), that little hole has become even more important.
Content for this question contributed by Jill Merisko, resident of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA
