Meiji 1 Yen

The Meiji 1 Yen coin, introduced in 1871, was Japan's first silver coin to adopt the decimal system, aligning the nation's currency with global standards like the Latin Monetary Union.

This meant it weighed exactly 26.96 grams of silver, struck at the Osaka mint from imported machinery. The obverse featured a dragon, symbolizing imperial power, while the reverse showed the denomination in both Japanese and English script—a nod to international trade. Early issues used planchets recycled from melted foreign coins, including Spanish reales, to speed production.

Mintage figures for the initial years remain unclear, as records from that era are incomplete. Most specimens show wear from circulation, reflecting their role in everyday transactions during Japan's rapid modernization.

One oddity: enthusiasts sometimes mistake these for purely ornamental pieces, but that's just wishful thinking.