ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Ihimutefu · CC BY-SA 4.0
Shōwa 10 Sen
Japan
1927–1945
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$5.87
Based on Silver spot price ($78.96/oz) · 72.0% purity · 3.21g
Updated 10:08 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Japan |
| Years Minted | 1927–1945 |
| Composition | 72% silver, 28% copper |
| Weight | 3.21 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the Imperial chrysanthemum crest at the top and the denomination '10 Sen' in kanji below.
Reverse
Depicts a wreath of paulownia and rice ears surrounding the year of minting.
History & Notable Facts
The Shōwa 10 Sen coin was one of the last Japanese currencies minted in silver for daily transactions, a practical choice that ended abruptly with wartime scrap drives.
Struck at the Osaka Mint from 1927 onward, it featured a simple obverse with the chrysanthemum crest and Paulownia flowers, all on 0.720 fine silver planchets. The reverse showed the denomination in a wreath, keeping things straightforward for a nation still modernizing its economy. Mintage figures vary by year, but exact numbers for later issues remain unclear due to incomplete records from the era.
As for myths, the idea that these coins were hoarded for their silver value is overblown; most ended up in circulation or melted down. Sure, they lack the drama of gold, but that's precisely what makes them reliable.
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