Korea's Currencies, Part 1: South Korea's Regular Coins Since 1963

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Hey readers,
I apologize for my months-long absence with no sign of videos in the Korean Story YouTube channel. The thing is, as a student, I can't hold up studying, translating, writing articles at least once a week plus a video once a week; it's just too much for me. So I've decided to put away the YouTube for another time, and continue the peaceful way this blog operated. (I do accept donations, still.)
Also, I apologize for making you guys wait for so long after I posted that reminder post on Facebook: Basically, all I did after writing that post, was making half/unfinished articles that I figured will be left alone for another time like the other 20 unfinished articles in my storage. I mean, while I was trying to write this, I tried to write a review on the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7!(Good job.) Hopefully, I get a schedule.

[Notice: The information on the new coins and their pictures was from KOMSCO.]
Today, I will only introduce you the coins of South Korea from 1963 until now. Why 1963? Because that's the current system of currency South Korea uses today: the NEW South Korean Won. Why is it the "New" South Korean Won? Well, can I explain that later on in the series? (Later in the series, I'll also talk about the rare yet normal collectors coins, as well as the failed system of North Korean Currency. Interesting, eh? Anyways... here we go.)

The Current Status of the South Korean Coinage System. There are 6 coins in total: the 500 Won (오백원), 100 Won (백원), 50 Won (오십원), 10 Won (십원), 5 Won (오원), and 1 Won (일원) coins. Just saying, if you can't find a 5 or a 1 Won coin in your pocket right now, don't worry, they stopped printing in 1992, and only sold in the KOMSCO website for circulation.

[Suggestion: If you are not someone who's going to check if these coins are counterfeit or not, or if you're not just a nerd, why not skip down to the spreadsheet below and look through the pics?]
[Another Suggestion: Wait until next week if you're looking if which year coins are rare or not. Thanks!]

Under "500" reads 한국은행 (Bank of Korea)

First, the 500-Won coin. There only has been one model, as the one and only model came out on June 12th, 1982. With a weight of 7.7g and a radius of 26.5mm, the 500-Won coin is 75% copper and 25% nickel. 

The Old Guy.

One can assume that the nickel covers the outside of the coin, as its color is nothing like copper.

The New Guy, now staring at you!

OK, now the 100-Won coin. This guy has two models: one from 1970 to January 15th, 1983, and the other one being continued since then. I really don't know the specs of the old model, but the new guy is a 24mm radius, 5.42g, and like the 500 Won coin, is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel. On the back of the coin is Lee Seun Shin, one of the bravest navy commanders of Korea in the 16th Century. (More on that on a later post.) 

Seriously, South Korea became more technological,
than agricultural...

Maybe replace these with phones?

The 50 Won coin also has two models, but again, thanks to limited resources, we're only going to look at the specs of the new guy.... or ear of barley or rice. Well, the new 50-Won was introduced the same day as the new 100-Won coin and is a bit smaller by having a 21.6mm radius and 4.16g of weight. It is not comprised of the same metals as its more valuable counterparts, as you can see in the picture; it is comprised of 70% copper, 12% nickel, and now, 18% of zinc. (Wait... I just got another idea on a post... mining!)

Back to the 60's~

Back to the 90's... with bad quality?

Back to the 70's~

Poor things, you can only get the 5-Won and single-won coins if you buy them online. Luckily, NH Bank has the information and pictures for these guys on its blog. The old guy from August 16, 1966, was a bit dark, with 88% copper and 12% zinc. But by July 16, 1970, that changed into 65% copper, and eventually in the entire coin change of 1983, the design changed, erasing the English words "Bank of Korea". (They also ceased to print in the U.S.A. during Korea's poverty days.)

The Current One.

The 60's(1)?

The 60's (2)?

And finally... the 1-Won coin. 20 minutes before this can qualify as being posted in February (In the East Coast Time). First printed at the same time as the 5-Won, it was 60% Copper and 40% Zinc, which changed into 100% Aluminum (or Aluminium if you're British) on August 26, 1968,

and the design change at the same time in the 80's. 

Now be ready for the next part of the series- "Rare Coins"! 
Come back next week for another article int he Korean Story. 
(Phew... 3 minutes left and I finished it on time!)



P.S. forget the spreadsheet!

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