The 5 yen coin is thought to bring good luck and bring you more money. It also is thought to bring you good relationships with other people. Early Japanese coins like this one are enjoying strong collector interest. This pattern, with the encircled dragon on the front and two-sided wreath and blossom on the back appears on the silver coins of denomination 5, 10, 20, and 50 Sen and 1 Yen. There are 100 sen in one yen. Copper and gold coins also carry the same pattern. The reason why the five yen coin is lucky is because it’s called a “go-EN” coin. The number 5 is “go” in Japanese, and “yen” is pronounced more like “en.” To be precise, “go-EN” means “honorably good luck” especially in terms of relationships. So people throw in these coins at a temple hoping to meet new people who.
Most Japanese people believe in destiny. The term 'go-en' (ご縁) refers to those seemingly serendipitous encounters that result in long and meaningful relationships. It would often mean a bond between people but it could also refer to connections with objects (like a house, a painting, or even a favourite teacup!) or a calling. Ask people how their career started, how they met their partners or how they found that perfect piece of furniture. Most answers would probably boil down to a mixture of perseverance and luck. Japanese people would say 'Go-en ga arimashita.' (ご縁がありました。）There was 'go-en' involved in the outcome. It was meant to be!
5 Yen Coin Worth
The Japanese 5-yen coin is also called “go-en” 五円. Because it sounds the same as the “go-en” of destiny, many Japanese people believe that having a 5-yen coin around helps them find what the Universe has in store for them. It could be a soul-mate, a dream job, the perfect house, etc. In shrines and temples, it is also the coin of choice when tossing a token offering into the collection box (賽銭箱 saisen-bako) whilst saying a prayer of thanks and/or a wish for something in the future (in that order). The 5-yen coin helps along the good luck and the serendipity that is actually meant to be!
5 Yen Coin Value
Extra trivia: Using a 10-yen coin for your prayers and wishes is not advisable. Another word for '10' is 'toh' (十). So, the 10-yen coin could be called 'toh-en' (十円). Now, another meaning for the word 'toh' (遠) is 'far' ...and putting them together as 'toh-en', it can be written as '遠縁', which means 'far destiny'! So the 10-yen coin is something that keeps your destiny out-of-reach!
5 Yen Coin Good Luck
We made a few items to help keep your lucky 5-yen coin handy, always ready to to attract the good luck in! All hand-made in-house with loving care. Available at the shop while supply lasts.