Note of the Month: Japan 100 Yen

Posted on 4/22/2025

With Expo 2025 now underway in Osaka, we take a look at a Japanese note that shows a historic Buddhist temple a few miles away.



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Country: Japan

Catalog Number: 89a

Date: ND (1946)

Denomination: 100 Yen

Varieties: The PMG Population Report also lists Pick# 89b (which is distinguished by a watermark of a phoenix instead of kiri leaves) as well as two types of Specimens.

What makes it special? Expo 2025 recently opened in Osaka and is expected to draw nearly 30 million visitors as it showcases Japan's Kansai region over the next six months. This note shows the historic Hōryū-ji temple, located a few miles east of Osaka. Its front shows Prince Shōtoku, who founded the temple in 607 as he sought to spread Buddhism in Japan.

Did you know? The Hōryū-ji temple was rebuilt more than 1,300 years ago and today is widely recognized as the world's oldest wooden structure. It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan and is part of Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Total graded by PMG: As of mid-April 2025, the PMG Population Report includes 273 examples of Pick# 89a, 11 examples of Pick# 89b and 21 Specimens.

PMG median grade: PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated EPQ

PMG highest graded: One example of Pick# 89a and three examples of Pick# 89b are graded PMG 67 Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

Sales highlights: A Pick# 89a graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated realized $80 in May 2022 through Stack's Bowers Galleries while an example graded PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ realized $94 (including shipping) through eBay in March 2025.

PMG Registry: This note is part of several Japan categories in the PMG Registry, including the most popular, 1872-Date, Type Set, P1-Date, Issued Notes, where the first-place set, Collectoroldthings' Japan after Hansatsu, has a Pick #89a graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated EPQ.

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Note of the Month: Japan 100 Yen

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