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One hundred yen

Japan
Value	100 Japanese yen
Mass	4.8 g
Diameter	22.6 mm
Shape	circular
Composition	Copper 75%, Nickel 25%
Years of minting	1957–present
Obverse
Design	Sakura blossoms
Design date	1967
Reverse
Design	"100" in Arabic numerals
Design date	1967

The 100 yen coin (百円硬貨, Hyaku-en kōka) is a denomination of Japanese yen. The current design was first minted in silver in 1959 and saw a change of metal in 1967.^[1] It is the second-highest denomination coin in Japan after the 500 yen coin.

History

The first 100 yen coin was issued in 1957 and featured a phoenix on the reverse. It featured Latin script writing in addition to Japanese. This design was issued in 1957 and in 1958.^[2]

In 1959, the design was modified, removing the Latin script, and changing the reverse side to show a sheaf of rice. The metallurgy remained unchanged. This design was issued every year from 1959 to 1966.^[3]

The current design for the 100 Yen coin was first issued in 1967. The metallurgy was changed from the former 60-30-10 ratio of silver-copper-zinc to a ratio of 75-25 copper-nickel, with the weight and diameter of the coin unchanged. The reverse side was changed to show sakura blossoms and the denomination in Japanese.

The coin shares, with the 50 yen coin, the emperor's rule date (28 in 2016) expressed with Arabic numerals instead of in Japanese numerals.

Composition

Commemoratives

• In 1964, a 100 yen coin was issued to mark the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The obverse featured the Olympic torch and Olympic rings while the reverse re-introduced Latin script.^[5]


• In 1970 a 100 Yen coin was issued to mark Expo 70 in Osaka.^[6]


• In 1972 a 100 yen coin commemorated the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo. The Olympic Torch remained on the obverse while the rings moved to the reverse.^[7]


• A coin marked Expo '75 in Okinawa.^[8]


• In 1976 a 100-yen coin marked the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Hirohito. A large chrysanthemum, symbolising the Japanese Imperial Family, featured on the reverse.^[9]


• In 2015, a new series of 100 yen coins was introduced to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the inauguration of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen train service. The coins are minted under a different composition of cupronickel, consisting of 87.5% copper and 12.5% nickel.^[10]


• To commemorate the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics, a new series of 100 yen coins will feature designs showcasing images of the sporting events taking place.^[11]

Designs

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  1957–1958
  

  
  

  
  


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  1959–1966
  

  
  

  
  


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  1964 Olympic commemorative
  

  
  

  
  


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  1967–present
  

  
  

  
  


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  1970 Expo commemorative
  

  
  

  
  

Circulation figures

Shōwa

The following are circulation dates which cover Emperor Hirohito's reign. The dates below correspond with the 32nd to the 64th year (last) of his reign. One hundred yen coins had three main different designs, but there was no overlap in mintage between them. Coins for this period will all begin with the Japanese symbol 昭和 (Showa).

• Japanese coins are read with a left to right format:

"Emperors name" → "Number representing year of reign" → "Year" (Ex: 昭和 → 53 → 年).

Heisei

The following are circulation dates in the reign of the current Emperor. Akihito was crowned in 1989, which is marked with a 元 symbol on the coin as a one year type. Coins for this period all begin with the Japanese symbol 平成 (Heisei).

• Japanese coins are read with a left to right format:

"Emperors name" → "Number representing year of reign" → "Year" (Ex: 平成 → 16 → 年).

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 100 yen coins.