Fused Coins from Hiroshima or Nagasaki, 1945

The blast of an atomic bomb can generate temperatures up to 7,700˚C. During the explosion on 6th August, 1945, the temperature of the hypocentre at Hiroshima ranged from 3,000-4,000˚C. This sen coin is made of copper, tin, and zinc, meaning its melting point is around 1084˚C. Having an artefact such as the one displayed in Ashes to Blossoms is therefore rare.

The coin with its design still visible is a 2 sen (二銭) coin. These first entered circulation during the sixth year of the Meiji period (1873), when Japan opened its borders to the West for the first time after its isolationist period during the Edo period. Whilst there are various designs of the sen coin (ranging from a dragon to cherry blossoms), the coin in the cluster has the dragon figure surrounded by the coin legend (the inscription).

100 sen equalled 1 yen. After World War II, the value of the yen drastically dropped. Whilst the sen is no longer in circulation, it is still used in the stock market. As such, this artefact is not only unique for its historical relevance to the atomic bombings of Japan, but is also a display of Japanese history dating back to the Meiji period (1868-1912).