20 Sen

Features

Issuer Japan
Issuing entity Great Japanese Government - Ministry of Finance (大日本政府大蔵省)
Emperor Meiji (1867-1912)
Type Standard banknote
Year 1872
Value 20 Sen (0.20 JPY)
Currency Yen (1871-date)
Composition Paper
Size 87 × 53 mm
Shape Rectangular
Demonetized 31 December 1899
Number
N#
266647
References P# 2,
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. Modern issues 1961-present (25th edition). Krause Publications, Iola, Wisconsin, United States.
And 2 more volumes.
JNDA# 11-8
Japan Numismatic Dealers Association (editor); 2023. 日本貨幣カタログ = The Catalog of Japanese Currency. Self-published, Tokyo, Japan.

Series: Meiji Tsūhō

Obverse

Black on brown underprint.
Vertical symmetrical design; two facing phoenix and dragons flanking Japanese text; green Ministry of Finance seal at top left.

Lettering:
二        二
十        十
 省蔵大府政本日大

    二
    十
    錢

    明
    治
    通
    宝
二        二
十        十

Translation:
Twenty (x2)
Great Japanese Government Ministry of Finance
Twenty sen
Currency of Meiji
Twenty (x2)

Engraver: Edoardo Chiossone

Designer: Edoardo Chiossone

Reverse

Blue vertical symmetrical design; Ministry of Finance seals in red and blue; serial number in Japanese characters.

Lettering:
八〇八一  すむい
番       号

    二
    十
      政大
      府日
      内本
      蔵帝
      卿國

    二
    十
番       号
八〇八一  すむい

Translation:
Number
Twenty
Finance Minister of the Imperial Government of Japan
Twenty
Number

Engraver: Edoardo Chiossone

Designer: Edoardo Chiossone

Comments

Meiji Tsūhō are the first Japanese banknote made with Western printing technology were planned to be issued with the aim of reforming the monetary system and the substantial effect of the abolition of the feudal clans. They feature an elaborate design that was difficult to forge at the beginning as counterfeiting was previously rampant with clan notes.
All arrivals from Germany were purposely left incomplete due to security reasons, the words "Meiji Tsūhō" and the seal of the Minister of Finance were added by the Imperial Printing Bureau first by hand and later by woodblock printing. Eventually enough Western technology was brought over to Japan as the Japanese government produced some notes domestically.

Start of issue: 15th February Meiji 5 (1872)
Printer:
Dondorf and Naumann, Frankfurt, Germany

See also

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Date No. printed VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (1872)  46 100 557

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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

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