Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions
  • 5 Sen 1933-1938, Y# 53, Japan, Hirohito
  • 5 Sen 1933-1938, Y# 53, Japan, Hirohito
Description

Hirohito (1901–1989) was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 25 December 1926, until his death on 7 January 1989. In Japan, reigning emperors are known simply as "the Emperor" and he is now referred to primarily by his posthumous name, Shōwa (昭和), which is the name of the era coinciding with his reign; for this reason, he is also known as the "Shōwa Emperor" or "Emperor Shōwa."

At the start of his reign, Japan was already one of the great powers—the ninth-largest economy in the world, the third-largest naval power, and one of the four permanent members of the council of the League of Nations. He was the head of state under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan during Japan's imperial expansion, militarization, and involvement in World War II. After Japan's surrender, he was not prosecuted for war crimes as many other leading government figures were, and his degree of involvement in wartime decisions remains controversial. During the post-war period, he became the symbol of the new state under the post-war constitution and Japan's recovery, and by the end of his reign, Japan had emerged as the world's second largest economy.

5 Sen Year S13 (1938) was never officially released for circulation, and all but four examples were melted.

Obverse

Depicts eight Magatama and dots decorated circle surrounded by state name above and date below small divided by cherry blossoms.

Magatama are curved, comma-shaped beads that appeared in prehistoric Japan from the Final Jōmon period through the Kofun period, approximately ca. 1000 BCE to the sixth century CE. The beads, also described as "jewels", were made of primitive stone and earthen materials in the early period, but by the end of the Kofun period were made almost exclusively of jade. Magatama originally served as decorative jewelry, but by the end of the Kofun period functioned as ceremonial and religious objects. Archaeological evidence suggests that magatama were produced in specific areas of Japan and were widely dispersed throughout the Japanese archipelago via trade routes.

On Japanese coins, the date is usually read clockwise (right-to-left). It begins with the symbols for the era name Shōwa (昭和), followed by the era year, and ends with the symbol for year (年).

本 日 大
年 三十 和 昭

Reverse

Depicts a value divided by the Imperial Seal, stylized imperial eagle with wide wings in front of the 13 sun rays.

The Imperial Seal of Japan, also called the Chrysanthemum Seal, Chrysanthemum Flower Seal or Imperial chrysanthemum emblem, is one of the national seals and a crest (mon) used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family. The symbol is a yellow or orange chrysanthemum with black or red outlines and background. A central disc is surrounded by a front set of 16 petals. A rear set of 16 petals are half staggered in relation to the front set and are visible at the edges of the flower. An example of the chrysanthemum being used is in the badge for the Order of the Chrysanthemum.

For Japan, the eagle is a symbol of the great power of nature that has existed since ancient times.

錢 五

Edge

5 Sen

Shōwa
Y# 53
Characteristics
Material Nickel
Weight 2.8 g
Diameter 19 mm
Thickness -
Shape round with a center hole
Alignment Medal
Mint
Japan Mint

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