Coin Japan 5 Sen - Dragon - Meiji Year 10 - 1877 - Silver

Remarks:

Slight signs of wear.

Japanese Coinage During Imperial Modernization

The Meiji Era (1868-1912) represents a pivotal period in Japanese history, marked by a rapid modernization of political, economic, and industrial institutions. Among the major reforms was the transformation of the monetary system. Before 1871, the country used a complex set of regional currencies inherited from the shogunate, making trade difficult. The monetary reform of 1871 introduced the yen, divided into 100 sen, following a decimal model inspired by Western powers.

The new imperial coinage combined modern minting techniques with traditional Japanese symbols. The first silver issues have a very recognizable style: imperial dragons, bilingual inscriptions, and a balanced composition intended both for domestic circulation and international recognition of modern Japan.

In this context, the 5 sen coins appeared, small silver coins intended for everyday transactions, but now particularly sought after for their artistic quality and historical importance.

The 5 Sen Year 10 of the Meiji Era (1877)

Two years later, the 5 sen coin minted in 1877 retains the same iconographic type, but already illustrates the technical progress made by the Japanese Mint. The reliefs appear more regular, and the quality of minting stabilizes, a sign of a production that is now better controlled.

The year 1877 also corresponds to a historically important period, marked by the Satsuma Rebellion, the last major samurai uprising against the new imperial power. In this context of political and social transition, the new silver coins played a fundamental role in economic stabilization and the affirmation of central authority.