Unlucky Coins Part 2

Unlucky Coins Part 2

Yesterday, I introduced 'jūen-dama' (十円玉 - "ten-yen coin") and 'gohyakuen-dama' (五百円玉 - "five-hundred-yen coin"), which are unpopular/unlucky coins as offertory money, and explained the reason for the former.

The reason for the latter is as follows:

'Dama/tama' (玉) meaning "coin" can be rephrased as 'kōka' (硬貨).

'Kōka' (硬貨) has the same sound as 効果, which means "effect."

In addition, the most expensive coin in Japan is "five-hundred-yen coin."

In other words, there are no coins (effects) larger than that.

縁起の悪いお賽銭 Part 2

昨日はお賽銭に縁起の悪い硬貨として「十円玉」と「五百円玉」を紹介し、「十円玉」の理由を説明しました。

「五百円玉」が縁起が悪いとされる理由は、次のようなものです。

"Coin" を意味する「玉」は、「硬貨」と言い換えることができます。

「硬貨」は、"effect" を意味する「効果」と同音です。

また、日本の硬貨で最も金額が大きいのは、「五百円玉」です。

すなわち、それ以上大きな硬貨（効果）はない、というわけです。

• 'Kōka' (硬貨) has the same sound as 効果, which means "effect."
• 'Kōka' (硬貨) has the same sound as 効果, which means "effect."

  "the same sound" works but something like this would be more common: 'Kōka' (硬貨) and 効果 are pronounced the same, the latter means "effect."

• In addition, the most expensive coin in Japan is "five-hundred-yen coin."
• In addition, the largest denomination coin in Japan is "five-hundred-yen coin."

  most expensive --> largest denomination
  
  most expensive = costs the most
  
  The most expensive coin in Japan is an 1875 double struck five-hundred-yen coin. It's so rare that even a coin in poor condition would cost you over $3,000.