10 Sen, Bank of Japan, Japan, 1944 (Pick 53)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1944
Issuing entity
JapanThis 10 Sen note was issued in Japan by the Bank of Japan, dated 1944. It belongs to the Yen (1871-date) currency system. Issuing authority and period recorded in the catalogue: Shōwa (1926-1989). It measures 106 × 51 mm and is printed on paper (wood pulp). The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money lists the type as Pick 53.
Obverse: Black print; purple underprint; red seal; red block numbers. Exterior perspective of Ametsuchi-no-motohashira (八紘之基柱; Also called Hakkōichiu-no-tō 八紘一宇の塔) monument, in Miyazaki, Japan, by HINAGO Jitsuzō, on the left, taking sunlight from space inbetween iridescent clouds. Chrysanthemum Seal on center-top. Denomination at all four corners. Red stamped seal in circle on lower right; red stamped seal in circle on lower-center. Block number on upper-right, and another one on lower-left. Scripts: Chinese (traditional, regular script) and Chinese (traditional, seal script). Its lettering reads “10 10 / 券行銀本日 {10} 日 / 本 / 銀 / 行 / 券 拾錢 之總 / 長發 印裁 / {10} 局 / 10 造幣局刷印國帝本日大 10”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Bank of Japan note Bank of Japan Seal of the Governor 10 sen Currency Issue Department Printed by the Great Japan Imperial Printing Bureau”.
Reverse: Purple print. Inscriptions on Seigaiha waves motif background, flanked by denomination in Sakura cherry blossom shaped cartouches on either side. Its lettering reads “券行銀本日 / 10 拾 10 / 錢”. Translation given in the catalogue: “Bank of Japan note Ten sen”. Watermark: Multiple faint Paulownia leaves. Issue date recorded in the catalogue: 1 November 1944. Demonetized: 31 December 1953. Identification note: match the value, issuing bank, printed date and Pick number together; dates and signature combinations distinguish sub-varieties, which are not separated in this entry. Details follow the Numista catalogue entry and the Standard Catalog reference it cites; they have not been checked against a central-bank archive.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 2
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 2
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Block numbers: 1-20 (50 000 000 pcs per block) Even though “Printed by the Great Japan Imperial Printing Bureau” is on the banknotes, they are all printed by outsourced private companies. In the early print, the paper was made from wood pulp mixed with small number of Mitsumata, but shortly changed to wood pulp only. The " Hakkō ichiu " monument in Miyazaki literally "eight crown cords, one roof" meaning "unify the eight corners of the world" was named after a prominent slogan popularized in a speech by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe. Because of the slogans historical context the monument was was renamed " Heiwa no tou " (Tower of Peace) in 1958.
Physical characteristics
- Size
- 106 × 51 mm
- Shape
- Rectangular
- Material
- Paper (Wood pulp)
- Watermark
- Multiple faint Paulownia leaves.
Technical characteristics
- Currency
- Yen (1871-date)
- Demonetized
- 31 December 1953
- Issuing bank
- Bank of Japan
Design
- Obverse
- Black print; purple underprint; red seal; red block numbers. Exterior perspective of Ametsuchi-no-motohashira (八紘之基柱; Also called Hakkōichiu-no-tō 八紘一宇の塔) monument, in Miyazaki, Japan, by HINAGO Jitsuzō, on the left, taking sunlight from space inbetween iridescent clouds. Chrysanthemum Seal on center-top. Denomination at all four corners. Red stamped seal in circle on lower right; red stamped seal in circle on lower-center. Block number on upper-right, and another one on lower-left. Scripts: Chinese (traditional, regular script) and Chinese (traditional, seal script)
- Reverse
- Purple print. Inscriptions on Seigaiha waves motif background, flanked by denomination in Sakura cherry blossom shaped cartouches on either side.
- Obverse lettering
- 10 10 / 券行銀本日 {10} 日 / 本 / 銀 / 行 / 券 拾錢 之總 / 長發 印裁 / {10} 局 / 10 造幣局刷印國帝本日大 10
- Reverse lettering
- 券行銀本日 / 10 拾 10 / 錢
Identification
- Value
- 10 Sen
- Dates recorded
- 1944
- Distinguishing features
- Printed date and signature combination separate sub-varieties
- Catalogue number to match
- Pick 53
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Recorded
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
- Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (Pick)P53
- NumistaN# 208598
Research required
- Confirm date and signature varieties against the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.