50 Sen - Shōwa Great Imperial Japanese Government

Features

Location	Japan
Issuing institution	Great Imperial Japanese Government (大日本帝國政府)
Emperor	Shōwa (1926-1989)
Type	Standard circulation banknotes
Years	17-19 (1942-1944)
Calendar	Japanese - Shōwa era
Value	50 Sen (0.50 JPY)
Currency	Yen (1871-date)
Composition	Paper
Size	105 × 65 mm
Shape	Rectangular
Demonetized	31 August 1948
Number	N# 208853
References	P# 59 Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (10 volumes). , JNDA# 11-61 Japan Numismatic Dealers Association (publisher). 日本貨幣カタログ. Japan Numismatic Dealers Association, Tokyo, Japan (37 volumes).

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Obverse

Black print; green, yellow, orange underprint; red seal; red block numbers.
Exterior perspective of Seidō Ōtorii in front of Shinmon Gate at Yasukuni Shrine, Kudankita, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, in center. Chrysanthemum Seal on center top. Golden Kite bird flying left on top-right corner. Vertical Kanji denomination in guillochés cartouche on top-left corner; Arabic numeral denomination in guillochés cartouche on bottom-right corner. Sakura cherry blossoms in the background.
Red seal of the Finance Minister in medallion with Chrysanthemum Seal top and 5-7 Paulownia seal bottom, at bottom-left corner.

Scripts: Chinese, Chinese (traditional, seal script)

Lettering:
五　　幣紙府政國帝本日大
拾　{117}
　　　　　　　　　　　　五　昭
　　　　　　　　　　　　拾　和
　　　　　　　　　　　　錢　十
大大　　　　　　　　　　　　九
臣藏　　　　　　　　　　　　年
　　　　　　　　　　　{117}　50

Translation:
Fifty
Great Imperial Japanese Government Note
Fifty sen
Finance Minister
Year 19 of Shōwa

Reverse

Green print.
Mount Takachiho-no-Mine flanked by denomination in guillochés.

Lettering: 50　50

Watermark

Repeating pattern of two wavy lines followed by the number 50.

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Date	No. printed	G	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC	References		Frequency
Undetermined
17 (1942)	90 000 000		$ 1.00	$ 1.20	$ 1.60	$ 5.80	$ 5.80	$ 6.70	P# 59a Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (10 volumes).	昭和十七年; block # 1-90	17%
18 (1943)	759 000 000	$ 1.00	$ 1.30	$ 1.50	$ 1.80	$ 1.80	$ 3.40	$ 5.80	P# 59b Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (10 volumes).	昭和十八年; block #91-849	72%
19 (1944)	211 000 000			$ 0.71	$ 1.60	$ 2.30	$ 6.80	$ 7.10	P# 59c Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (10 volumes).	昭和十九年; block #1-211	23%

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this banknote. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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Members from this site want to exchange it: Jesse11, Alexius73, ananthk, squash70, berkyida1, akadotour, kommodore, npsparkranger, NowWhyHow, andres_timoteo, robertmx, oldandhardy, kopeks, Asmi, WonYoungJun, shamrockwallace, kiyoshi anzai, Rubiksgocraft, lhillman, Marcelo, odessoss, That0neZebra, daschwin92, amakitu_Japan, Mfehrs, rserzy, sigeichi, rmuniak, vongrünfeld, Avraham Cohen, CanBird81, paznir, Iftikhar Ali 2025, socialistcurrencyguy, Watcherman, Cerulean, gyoschak, Fredhascoins

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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.

Examples of the type

Picture 1 of the example of 50 Sen - Shōwa (Great Imperial Japanese Government)

Picture 2 of the example of 50 Sen - Shōwa (Great Imperial Japanese Government)

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Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Sold price
	Katz Auction 179 Lot 198	27 Dec 2025	17 (1942) – P# 59a – 昭和十七年; block # 1-90	UNC	Unsold
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 163 Lot 178	15 Jul 2025	17 (1942) – P# 59a – 昭和十七年; block # 1-90	UNC	Unsold
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 139 Lot 122	5 Oct 2024	17 (1942) – P# 59a – 昭和十七年; block # 1-90	AU	USD 5.80 (EUR 5.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 118 Lot 149	23 Mar 2024	17 (1942) – P# 59a – 昭和十七年; block # 1-90	AU	USD 5.80 (EUR 5.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 149 Lot 3719	8 Feb 2025	18 (1943) – P# 59b – 昭和十八年; block #91-849	UNC	USD 6.96 (EUR 6.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 145 Lot 702	29 Nov 2024	18 (1943) – P# 59b – 昭和十八年; block #91-849	UNC	Unsold
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 143 Lot 95	13 Nov 2024	18 (1943) – P# 59b – 昭和十八年; block #91-849	UNC	USD 11.60 (EUR 10.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 127 Lot 127	1 Jun 2024	18 (1943) – P# 59b – 昭和十八年; block #91-849	UNC	USD 15.08 (EUR 13.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 121 Lot 235	18 Apr 2024	18 (1943) – P# 59b – 昭和十八年; block #91-849	UNC	USD 8.12 (EUR 7.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 132 Lot 147	17 Jul 2024	18 (1943) – P# 59b – 昭和十八年; block #91-849	XF	USD 8.12 (EUR 7.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.