The importance of the 5 Yen coin | I lost …]
In Japan, there are two coins currently in circulation that feature a central hole:
- The 5 Yen coin.
- The 50 Yen coin.
The holes in these coins serve several purposes:
- Saving material costs: The Japanese government intentionally designed these coins with a hole to reduce the amount of metal required for their production.
- Preventing counterfeiting: The unique shape can make it more challenging to counterfeit these coins.
- Distinguishing denominations: In the case of the 50 Yen coin, the hole was added to differentiate it from the 100 Yen coin, which is similar in size and color.
- Cultural and traditional significance: Holed coins have a long history in some Asian cultures, where they were historically threaded onto cords for easy carrying, [according to Quora].
- Helping visually impaired individuals: The holes provide a tactile way for visually impaired individuals to distinguish between the different coin denominations.
The 5 Yen coin, in particular, holds special cultural significance in Japan. This is because its Japanese pronunciation, “go-en,” is a homophone for a phrase meaning “good fortune” or “destiny”. As a result, 5 Yen coins are often offered as donations at Shinto shrines with the intention of fostering a connection with the deity.
How much is a Japanese coin with a hole worth?
From my experience, The coins vary only slightly in size. The 100 Yen coin and 50 Yen coin have ridged edges. The 50 Yen coin and 5 Yen coin have holes in their centers. The 10 Yen coinand 500 Yen coin are distinguished by their size and lack of edge ridges or a center hole.
Why is the 5 yen coin good luck?
I can help with that. The 5 yen coin is considered the lucky coin, simply because its pronunciation is the same as the word 御縁 (goen) which can mean destiny or opportunity. It’s often given to people before long travels or important trials.