½ Yen

Features

Issuer	Japan
Issuing entity	Great Japanese Government - Ministry of Finance
Emperor	Meiji (1867-1912)
Type	Standard banknote
Year	1872
Value	½ Yen (1/2 JPY)
Currency	Yen (1871-date)
Composition	Paper
Size	89 × 53 mm
Shape	Rectangular
Demonetized	31 December 1899
Number	N# 266649 Numista type number (https://numista.com)
References	P# 3, Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. Modern issues 1961-present (25th edition). Krause Publications, Iola, Wisconsin, USA. And 2 more volumes. JNDA# 11-7 Japan Numismatic Dealers Association (editor); 2020. 日本貨幣カタログ = The Catalog of Japanese Currency. Self-published, Tokyo, Japan.

Series: Meiji Tsūhō

Obverse

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

Lettering:
半　　　　　　　　半
　省蔵大府政本日大

　　　　半
　　　　圓

　　　　明
　　　　治
　　　　通
　　　　宝
半　　　　　　　　半

Translation:
Half (x2)
Great Japanese Government Ministry of Finance
Half yen
Currency of Meiji
Half (x2)

Engraver: Edoardo Chiossone

Designer: Edoardo Chiossone

Reverse

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

Lettering:
三八二三　　✶えひ
番　　　　　　　号
　　　　半
　 　 　 政大
　 　 　 府日
　 　 　 内本
　 　 　 蔵帝
　 　 　 卿國
　　　　半
番　　　　　　　号
三八二三　　✶えひ

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

• Bird
• Fantastic animals

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