Shōwa 1 Sen

The Shōwa 1 Sen coin introduced the first use of a simplified chrysanthemum crest on Japanese currency, symbolizing the imperial seal in a more modern design.

This bronze piece, minted from 1927 onward, featured a central hole for stringing, a practical holdover from earlier coins that made them easy to carry in bulk. Its obverse showed the denomination in bold characters, while the reverse bore the year and mint mark. Weighing about 1 gram, it was struck at the Osaka Mint, though exact production figures for early years remain murky due to wartime records.

Variations exist, like those with a slightly different edge reeding, but they're subtle enough to stump even seasoned collectors. If you're hunting one, check for wear on the high points; these circulated heavily in daily transactions.

Not every coin from that era survived the Pacific War intact, which might explain their scarcity today. As for myths, I've heard tales of them being lucky charms, but that's just nonsense—bronze doesn't carry magic, only history.