Obverse

Reverse

10 Yen

Japan 10 Yen

Japan · 1973 (Showa Year 48)

A bronze coin featuring the Byodo-in Phoenix Hall on the obverse and a large numeral 10 surrounded by an evergreen laurel wreath on the reverse.

Country: Japan
Year: 1973 (Showa Year 48)
Denomination: 10 Yen
Metal: Bronze (95% Copper, 4% Tin, 1% Zinc)
Grade: Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated (XF-AU)

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Identified September 18, 2026More japan coins →

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Overview

A bronze coin featuring the Byodo-in Phoenix Hall on the obverse and a large numeral 10 surrounded by an evergreen laurel wreath on the reverse.

Historical significance

Issued during the post-war economic miracle of Japan under the reign of Emperor Hirohito (Showa period), reflecting the country's rapid modernization and cultural preservation.

Obverse (front)

Features the Phoenix Hall of the Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Kyoto, surrounded by the Japanese legend 'Nihon Koku' (State of Japan) at the top and '10 Yen' at the bottom.

Reverse (back)

Features a large numeral '10' with the Japanese date characters for Showa year 48 (1973) underneath, encircled by a continuous wreath of evergreen leaves tied with a bow at the bottom.

Estimated value

$0.25 - $2.00 depending on condition

What drives this coin's value

Condition and preservation of original mint luster; key dates in the series include earlier Showa years like Showa 26 (1951) and Showa 33 (1958).

Grade assessment

Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated (XF-AU)

Mintage & rarity

Very high mintage, extremely common in circulation

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Counterfeiting common 10 Yen coins is extremely rare because face value and market value are very close; genuine pieces have precise weight and standard bronze composition.

Notable varieties & errors

Edge variations (reeded edge vs. plain edge) depend on the production era, but 1973 specifically has no major high-value errors or key date varieties.

Similar coins

Other Japanese copper and bronze coin denominations such as the 1 Yen (aluminum) or 5 Yen (brass), though distinguishable by size, color, and design elements.

Care & preservation

Store in a dry, stable environment using PVC-free coin holders or flips. Avoid touching the surfaces with bare hands to prevent fingerprint toning from skin oils.

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Overview

Historical significance

Obverse (front)

Reverse (back)

Estimated value

What drives this coin's value

Grade assessment

Mintage & rarity

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Notable varieties & errors

Similar coins

Care & preservation

Other japan coins

Learn about Japan 10 Yen in the encyclopedia