Taishō 5 Sen

The Taishō 5 sen coin marked Japan's shift to nickel as a primary material, replacing silver amid the First World War's metal shortages.

This decision wasn't just practical; it reflected broader economic pressures, with the coin struck at the Osaka Mint from 1916 onward. Its design featured a simple chrysanthemum on the obverse and a value inscription on the reverse, all in a modest 21.5 millimeter diameter. While records confirm over 100 million were produced in some years, exact mintage figures for others vanished in bureaucratic reshuffles.

Collectors often overlook that these coins circulated widely, showing wear from everyday use in a rapidly industrializing nation. As for myths about their rarity, let's just say not every coin from that era is a hidden gem—some are just well-traveled pocket change.

We don't know precisely how many ended up melted down during later wars, but enough survive to make them accessible, if unassuming, in the numismatic world.