Coin Pièce Japan 10 sen Zinc Sh?wa Tenn? 1944 Osaka

This 10 sen coin was issued in Japan in 1944, corresponding to the 19th year of the Sh?wa era, a period marked by the reign of Emperor Sh?wa Tenn?, better known as Hirohito. It was produced by the Osaka Mint, one of the two major minting institutions of Imperial Japan.

The production of this zinc coin reflects the context of World War II, during which Japan, faced with shortages of strategic metals such as copper and nickel, was forced to resort to substitute materials for the production of its everyday currency. Zinc, being less precious and more readily available, became the preferred material for small denominations.

The coin has a weight of 1.5 grams and a diameter of 17.5 millimetres, relatively modest dimensions consistent with its face value of 10 sen, a subdivision of the Japanese yen, of which one hundred units make one yen.

The obverse of the coin is adorned with traditional Japanese imperial symbols, notably the imperial chrysanthemum, emblem of the Imperial House of Japan. The reverse generally features the face value inscribed in Japanese characters, accompanied by decorative motifs characteristic of Sh?wa-era coin production.

Zinc coins from this period often show particular signs of corrosion and surface deterioration, as this metal is especially susceptible to oxidation.