So my step dad's cousin was in the Army back in 1945, he sadly didnt make it home and was thought to be a MIA POW. Before he went missing though he sent my step dad this after writing a note on it. Ive taken it in to see if anyone could put some kind of value other than the family tie with it and they had never seen anything that was said to actually be from the battle of Okinawa
It's entirely possible it was in a Japanese soldier's possession before your relative claimed it as a souvenir from the battle (although hard to prove). Because of the hand written note, History & Military Buffs might wish to pay a bit more than paper currency collectors. Did find this and it looks to be a match to yours. https://www.leftovercurrency.com/ex...-banknotes/50-japanese-sen-banknote-half-yen/ Also this site: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...-note-world-war-ii-1101-mt--162-c-09745e58fe#
Even with the inscription there is not much value. It would have some value if it were signed or came with a letter from him to show provenance.
The note is a Japanese Government 50 Sen note from 1938 (a Sen was 1/100th of a Yen). The date is on the extreme left running from top to bottom: "昭和十三年" or "Showa 13," meaning the 13th year of the reign of the Emperor Showa (better known as Hirohito) or 1938. The denomination, 50 Sen, runs from right to left in large black letters on the bottom right in now antiquated Kanji, it would look like this today: "五十銭" It also runs from top to bottom down the center of the back. These notes, as already said, are not particularly rare, even in good condition. The bill pictured has seen significant wear so it would probably catch no more than a few dollars. If there was any proof that it did see action in the battle of Okinawa that could change the value significantly, but it's pretty difficult to prove by just the writing on the bill, because it's hard to prove who wrote it, when, were they writing it there because they heard it was from the Battle of Okinawa? Did they really know? It's hard to say based on the bill alone, so without any other evidence, it's probably worth far more as a family heirloom than as a numismatic item.
Ill have to keep looking in the garage for more of the things he sent with it.. Thank you for your translation on it though. I appreciate it.
