The was a denomination of

Japanese yen The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third-most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the United States dollar (US$) and the euro. It is also widely used as a third reserve currency after the US dollar and the ...

that was issued from 1872 to 1958 (non-consecutively) in paper form. The first two issues for this denomination are rare for various reasons, including the latter of the two not being released for circulation. The final issue (also known as "B series") was short-lived as it was only issued from 1951 to 1958. Eventually a "stop payment" order was given causing the old 50 yen bills to be pulled from circulation in favor of the 50 yen coin. While "B series" notes continue to retain their legal tender status, they are now worth more as collectables.

Issues

Old style 50 yen notes made during the Meiji era are considered to be very rare today with few existing examples, these were first issued in 1872 and later discontinued in 1899. The next series of 50 yen bills were intended to be issued in 1927, but were never released for circulation due to the

Shōwa financial crisis The was a financial panic in 1927, during the first year of the reign of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, and was a foretaste of the Great Depression. It brought down the government of Prime Minister Wakatsuki Reijirō and led to the domination of ...

. Two types of "Specimen" notes are known to exist which are now a rarity valued in the millions of yen. The final 50 yen notes were issued from 1951 to 1958, and are known as "B series" notes. An unofficial nickname dubbed "Takahashi notes" are also given for the "B series" as they feature former prime minister

Takahashi Korekiyo Viscount was a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Peers, as Prime Minister of Japan from 1921 to 1922, and as the head of the Bank of Japan and Ministry of Finance. Takahashi made many contributions to Japan's develop ...

on the front, and the

Bank of Japan The is the central bank of Japan.Louis Frédéric, Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric. (2005). "Nihon Ginkō" in The bank is often called for short. It has its headquarters in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo. History Like most modern Japanese instituti ...

building on the back. The first 50 yen coins debuted in 1955, which was the beginning of the end for their 50 yen note counterpart as the two circulated concurrently. Finally a "stop payment" order was given in 1958 with the banks requesting the notes be withdrawn from circulation. Currently all notes of the "B series" continue to remain legal tender and are redeemable at face value from banks. The "stop payment" date refers to when 50 yen notes ceased being paid from the central

to municipal banks, it has nothing to do with making the notes invalid. Spending 50 yen notes is not advised as they are worth much more than their

face value The face value, sometimes called nominal value, is the value of a coin, bond, stamp or paper money as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the issuing authority. The face value of coins, stamps, or bill is usually its legal value. Howe ...

on the collector's market.

References

External links

Bank of Japan
- Information about 50 yen "B series" notes. {{Japanese currency and coinage Japanese yen banknotes Fifty-base-unit banknotes

Issues

See also

References

External links