You've probably seen them sitting in a small tray at a 7-Eleven or clinking around the bottom of a souvenir bag. The japanese coin 100 yen is, quite honestly, the workhorse of the Japanese economy. While the 500 yen coin might be the "heavy hitter" and the 1 yen is the one you constantly try to get rid of, the 100 yen piece is the one that actually gets things done. It’s the silver-colored hero of vending machines, arcades, and those legendary "100-yen shops" that travelers obsess over.
But there’s a lot more to this coin than just being "about a dollar." It has a history involving massive silver price spikes, hidden designs, and a very specific role in Japanese culture.
The silver history most people forget
Believe it or not, the japanese coin 100 yen wasn't always just a mix of copper and nickel. Back when it first hit the streets in 1957, it was actually a silver coin. The first version featured a phoenix on the front. It was beautiful, heavy, and felt like real money.
By 1959, they changed the design to a sheaf of rice. The government wanted to celebrate the country's agricultural growth. But then, the 1960s happened. Silver prices across the globe started to skyrocket. People weren't just spending these coins; they were hoarding them or, worse, smuggling them out of the country to melt them down.
Basically, the silver in the coin became worth more than the 100 yen face value.
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In 1967, the Japan Mint had to make a call. They ditched the silver entirely and moved to the cupronickel version we use today. This is why if you ever find a 100 yen coin dated before 1967, you should probably keep it. It's 60% silver. Today’s coins? They're 75% copper and 25% nickel.
Reading the date (It’s not 2026)
If you look at the back of a japanese coin 100 yen, you won't see "2026" or "1995." Instead, you’ll see Japanese kanji characters followed by a number. This is the era name and the year of the Emperor’s reign.
- Shōwa (昭和): 1926–1989 (Emperor Hirohito)
- Heisei (平成): 1989–2019 (Emperor Akihito)
- Reiwa (令和): 2019–present (Emperor Naruhito)
So, a coin from 2024 would actually say "Reiwa 6." It’s a bit of a puzzle for tourists, but once you recognize the characters for the eras, it’s kinda fun to see how old your change actually is.
Why the 100 yen coin is the king of the street
Japan is the land of vending machines. There’s roughly one for every 23 people. And while most modern machines take Suica cards or phone payments now, the japanese coin 100 yen is still the undisputed king of the coin slot.
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The Arcade Life
Walk into a Taito Station or a SEGA (now GiGO) arcade in Akihabara. Almost every single crane game or rhythm game is calibrated for exactly 100 yen. It’s the "quarter" of Japan, but with much more buying power. You’ll see "salarymen" in full suits dropping these coins into "Gachapon" machines to get tiny plastic figurines. It's a huge part of the local lifestyle.
100-Yen Shops (Daiso and Beyond)
You can’t talk about this coin without mentioning Daiso, Seria, and Can★Do. These stores are basically a rite of passage. Most items are 100 yen (plus 10% tax, so 110 yen total). We aren't talking about junk, either. You can get high-quality ceramic bowls, stationary that actually works, and even decent kitchen tools.
The rare ones you should look for
Most 100 yen coins are just worth 100 yen. Boring, right? But collectors—the real "coin nerds"—keep an eye out for specific years.
- 1964 Tokyo Olympics: This was a commemorative silver coin. They minted 80 million of them, but they’re still highly prized because they were the first commemorative coins Japan ever made.
- Heisei 13 (2001): For some reason, the mintage was way lower this year—only about 8 million were made. Compared to the hundreds of millions in other years, these are relatively rare in your pocket change.
- The Shinkansen 50th Anniversary (2014-2016): These are gorgeous. They feature different "Bullet Trains" on the back. They are legal tender, so you might actually find one in the wild, though most people hoard them immediately.
Design and specs for the curious
The coin is exactly 22.6 mm in diameter and weighs 4.8 grams. The front features cherry blossoms (Sakura), which is basically the unofficial symbol of Japan. It’s simple, clean, and hasn't changed its look since 1967.
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The edge is reeded (has those little ridges), which was originally designed to prevent people from shaving the edges off silver coins. Even though there’s no silver left, the tradition stuck.
What to do with your leftover coins
Don't be that person at the airport trying to exchange coins back into your home currency. Exchange booths usually won't take them.
- Pocket Change Trays: Look for the small trays near cash registers at convenience stores. If you have 2 or 3 yen extra, just drop them in.
- Suica Refill: You can actually use 100 yen coins to top up your transport cards at most train stations.
- Gachapon: Honestly, just go to a Gachapon hall and get a weird souvenir. It’s better than having a heavy pocket on the flight home.
The japanese coin 100 yen is more than just currency; it’s a tiny piece of Japanese history you can hold in your hand. Next time you're standing in front of a vending machine in Shinjuku at 2:00 AM, take a second to look at the date on the back before you buy that hot coffee in a can.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your wallet for any 100 yen coins with the characters 昭和 (Shōwa). If the number next to it is 41 or lower (meaning it was minted in 1966 or earlier), you're holding a coin with actual silver content. These are worth significantly more than 100 yen to collectors or silver stackers, so keep them separate from your "vending machine money."