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2 Yen - Meiji large type
| Issuer | Japan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1870 |
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| Composition | Gold (.900) |
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| Obverse description | A finely detailed coiled dragon occupies the central field, enclosed within an inner beaded circle. Six kanji characters arranged in two vertical columns flank the dragon to the left and right, reading 'Great Japan, Year 3 of Meiji' around the periphery outside the beaded border. The denomination '二圓' (2 Yen) is inscribed in the lower field below the inner beaded circle, flanked by small circular ornaments. The entire design is set within an outer reeded border, rendered in high relief with meticulous engraving characteristic of early Meiji-era coinage. |
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| Reverse description | At center, a radiant sunburst crest is superimposed upon a sacred mirror (kagami), the combined device serving as the Imperial mon. The central motif is flanked symmetrically by two military banners or gonfalons bearing decorative detail. A sixteen-petaled chrysanthemum crest, the Imperial seal of Japan, is prominently placed at the top, while a paulownia (kiri) crest appears at the base. The composition is enclosed within a beaded inner border and an outer milled rim, reflecting the formal heraldic style of early Meiji Imperial coinage. |
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| Additional information |
The Meiji government introduced gold coinage in 1870 as part of the New Currency Act (Shinheisei) of that year, which formally abolished the chaotic feudal monetary system and pegged Japan to a decimal standard. The 2 Yen was among the first modern machine-struck gold coins produced at the newly established Osaka Mint, which had only opened in April 1871 — meaning some dated 1870 pieces were struck slightly after that calendar year under the traditional Japanese reckoning.
The "large type" designation distinguishes this issue from the reduced-diameter 2 Yen introduced later. Mintage figures for the large type were modest, and the denomination was discontinued before the series fully matured.