Yen

Yen is the currency used in Japan. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the United States Dollar and Euro. In Japanese it is usually pronounced "en", but the pronunciation "yen" is standard in English. The ISO 4217 codes for the yen are JPY and 392. The Latinised symbol is ¥, while in Japanese it is written with the kanji 円.

Denominations

Currently, the following denominations are in circulation: coins worth 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 yen; and bills worth 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 yen. 500 yen coins are probably the highest valued coins to be used regularly in the world (US$4.77, €3.59, £2.49). The United States's largest-valued commonly-used coin (25¢) is worth 26 yen; the Eurozone's largest (€2) is worth ¥279, and the United Kingdom's largest (£2) is worth ¥402 (as of March 2005). The highest valued bill, the 10,000 yen bill, is worth just a little bit less than the U.S. $100 bill, the highest denomination of currently circulating U.S. currency.

Related Topics:
Eurozone - United Kingdom's

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On various occasions, special coins are minted using gold and silver with various face values. Even though they can be used, they are treated as collectibles.

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On November 1, 2004, the Bank of Japan introduced new paper currency. The 10,000 yen bill remains 76×160 mm and has a portrait of Fukuzawa Yukichi on the obverse. The 5,000 yen bill measures 76×156 mm (1 mm longer than its predecessor) with a portrait of Higuchi Ichiyo. The 1,000 yen bill, at 76×150 mm is unchanged in size, and bears the likeness of Hideyo Noguchi. These three notes join the 76×154 mm 2,000 yen note of July 19, 2000 and replace the designs that entered circulation on November 1, 1984.

Related Topics:
November 1 - 2004 - Bank of Japan - Fukuzawa Yukichi - Higuchi Ichiyo - Hideyo Noguchi - July 19 - 2000 - 1984

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