South Korean modern coinage (1959-present)

 

 

Video link from youtube - presented by Joho and Amanda's Korean Adventure.

 

Reference from Hwadong 2008 Korean Coins and Banknotes Catalogue. If you have any coins that I don't have here and willing to sell, please send me a message at:

 

Older Korean coinage typeset can be seen here

 

Special thanks to Topher and Jim for providing some of the coins.

 

Arranged by denomination

 

Arranged by years

 

 

4292 (1959) - 100 hwan

 
  • Alloy: Cu 75%, Ni 25%
  • Diameter: 26mm
  • Mass: 6.74g
  • One year type
  • Minted in US?

 

 

4292 (1959)

 

 

4292, 4294 (1959, 61) - 50 hwan

 
  • Alloy: Cu 70%, Zn 18%, Ni 12%
  • Diameter: 22.86mm
  • Mass: 3.69g
  • Two year type
  • Minted in US?

 

 

4292 (1959) 4294 (1961)

 

 

1959, 1961 (1959, 1961) - 10 hwan

 
  • Alloy: Cu 95%, Zn 5%,
  • Diameter: 19.10mm
  • Mass: 2.46g
  • Two year type
  • Minted in US?

 

 

4292 (1959) 4294 (1961)

 

 

500 won

 
  • Alloy: Cu 75%, Ni 25%,
  • Diameter: 26.5mm
  • Mass: 7.70g

 

 

1982 - 15m 1983 - 64m 1984 - 70m 1987 - 1m
N/A
1988 - 27m 1989 - 25m 1990 - 60m 1991 - 90m
1992 - 105m 1993 - 32m 1994 -50.6m 1995 - 87m
N/A
1996 - 122m 1997 - 62m 1998 - 8k* 1999 - 22m
Mintset only
2000 - 128m 2001 - 113m 2002 - 110m 2003 - 122m
N/A N/A
2004 - 45m 2005 - 105m 2006 -170m 2007
N/A N/A N/A
2008      
       

*Note in 1998, only 8000 of 500 won were minted in mint sets. The reason of this scarce mintage is likely to do with Asian economic crisis which hit Korea in the mid 1997.

 

 

100 won

 
  • 1970-1975, 1977-1982
  • Alloy: Cu 75%, Ni 25%,
  • Diameter: 24.0mm
  • Mass: 5.42g

 
 
  • 1983-present
  • Alloy: Cu 75%, Ni 25%,
  • Diameter: 24.0mm
  • Mass: 5.42g

 

 

1970 - 1.5m 1971 - 13m 1972 - 20m 1973 - 80m
1974 - 50m 1975 - 70m 1977 - 30m 1978 - 50m
1979 - 130m 1980 - 60m 1981 - 0.1m 1982 - 70m
 
1983 - 130m 1984 - 40m 1985 -16m 1986 -131m
 
1987 -170m 1988 - 298m 1989 - 250m 1990 - 185m
1991 - 400m 1992 - 425m 1993 - 185m 1994 - 401m
1995 - 228m 1996 - 447m 1997 - 147m 1998 - 5.008m
 
1999 - 332m 2000 - 423m 2001 - 470m 2002 - 490m
2003 - 415m 2004 - 250m 2005 - 205m 2006 - 310m
     
2007 2008    
     

 

 

50 won

 
  • 1972-74, 77-82
  • Alloy: Cu 70%, Zn 18%, Ni 12%,
  • Diameter: 21.6mm
  • Mass: 4.16g

 
 
  • 1983-85, 87-2007
  • Alloy: Cu 70%, Zn 18%, Ni 12%,
  • Diameter: 21.6mm
  • Mass: 4.16g

 

 

1972 - 6m 1973 - 40m 1974 - 25m 1977 - 1m
1978 - 15m 1979 - 20m 1980 - 10m 1981 - 25m
1982 - 40m 1983 - 50m 1984 - 40m 1985 - 4m
1987 - 32m 1988 - 53m 1989 - 70m 1990 - 85m
1991 - 80m 1992 - 50m 1993 - 5m 1994 - 102m
1995 - 98m 1996 - 52m 1997 - 129m 1998 - 28.008m
1999 - 15m 2000 - 86m 2001 - 102m 2002 - 100m
2003 - 169m 2004 - 100m 2005 - 90m 2006 - 120m
2007 2008    
     

 

 

10 won

 
  • 1966-1970
  • Alloy : Cu 88%, Zn 12% (before mid 1970)
  • Diameter: 22.86mm
  • Mass: 4.06g

 
 
  • 1970-1975, 77-82
  • Alloy : Cu 65%, Zn 35% (after mid 1970)
  • Diameter: 22.86mm
  • Mass: 4.06g

 
 
  • 1983, 1985-2006
  • Alloy : Cu 65%, Zn 35%
  • Diameter: 22.86mm
  • Mass: 4.06g

 
 
  • 2006-present
  • Alloy: Cu 48%, Al 52%
  • Diameter: 18.00m
  • Mass: 1.22g

 

 

1966 - 10.6m 1967 - 22.5m 1968 - 22.5m 1969 - 46.5m
1970 (old) 1970 (new) - Total mintage: 157m 1971 - 220m 1972 - 270m
1973 - 30m 1974 - 15m 1975 - 20m 1977 - 1m
 
1978 - 80m 1979 - 200m 1980 - 150m 1981 - 0.1m
 
1982 - 20m 1983 - 8m 1985 - 65m 1986 - 195m
 
1987 - 155m 1988 - 189m 1989 - 310m 1990 - 395m
1991 - 300m 1992 - 150m 1993 - 110m 1994 - 300m
1995 - 380m 1996 - 290m 1997 - 177m 1998 - 98.008m
1999 - 377m 2000 - 335m 2001 - 345m 2002 - 100m
2003 - 128m 2004 - 135m 2005 - 250m 2006 (old) - 40.8m
2006 (new) - 109.2m 2007 2008  
 

In 2006, the South Korean government announced that it will change the composition of the 10 won coins because of the rising metal costs. The size of the 10 won coin is reduced and much lighter.

 

 

5 won

 
  • 1966-1970
  • Alloy : Cu 88%, Zn 12% (before mid 1970)
  • Diameter: 20.40mm
  • Mass: 2.95g

 
 
  • 1970-1972, 77-82
  • Alloy : Cu 65%, Zn 35% (after mid 1970)
  • Diameter: 20.40mm
  • Mass: 2.95g

 
 
  • 1983, 1987-1991, 1995-present
  • Alloy : Cu 65%, Zn 35%
  • Diameter: 20.40mm
  • Mass: 2.95g
  • Coins minted after 1995 are only available in mintsets.

 

 

1966 - 4.5m 1967 - 18m 1968 - 20.5m 1969 - 25m
1970 (old) 1970 (new) - Total mintage: 50m 1971 - 64m 1972 - 60m
1977 - 1m 1978 - 1m 1979 - 1m 1980 - 0.1m
       
1981 - 0.1m 1982 - 0.1m 1983 - 6m 1987 - 1m
     
1988 - 0.5m 1989 - 0.5m 1990 - 0.5m 1991 - 0.5m
 
1995 - 15k 1996 - 15k 1997 - 15k 1998 - 10k
       
1999 - 10k 2000 - 30k 2001 - 0.13m 2002 - 0.122m
       
2003 - 20k 2004 - 25.5k 2005 - 38k 2006 - 53k
       
2007 2008    
       

 

 

1 won

 
  • 1966-7
  • Alloy : Cu 60%, Zn 40%
  • Diameter: 17.2mm
  • Mass: 1.70g
  • Two year type 

 
 
  • 1968-70, 74-82
  • Alloy : Al 100%
  • Diameter: 17.2mm
  • Mass: 0.729g

 
 
  • 1983-85, 87-91, 95-97, 00-present
  • Alloy : Al 100%
  • Diameter: 17.2mm
  • Mass: 0.729g
  • Coins minted after 1995 are only available in mintsets.

 

 

1966 - 7m 1967 - 48.5m 1968 - 66.5m 1969 - 85m
1970 - 45m 1974 - 12m 1975 - 10m 1976 - 20m
1977 - 30m 1978 - 30m 1979 - 30m 1980 - 20m
1981 - 20m 1982 - 30m 1983 - 40m 1984 - 20m
 
1985 - 10m 1987 - 10m 1988 - 6.5m 1989 - 10m
       
1990 - 6m 1991 - 5m 1995 - 15k 1996 - 15k
   
1997 - 15k 2000 - 30k 2001 - 0.13m 2002 - 0.122m
       
2003 - 20k 2004 - 25.5k 2005 - 35k 2006 - 53k
       
2007 2008    
     

 

Arranged by years

 

 

1959

10 hwan 50 hwan 100 hwan

 

1961

10 hwan 50 hwan

 

1966 - New denomination

1 won - 7m 5 won - 4.5m 10 won - 10.6m

 

1967

1 won - 48.5m 5 won - 18m 10 won - 22.5m

 

1968

1 won - 66.5m 5 won - 20.5m 10 won - 35m

 

1969

1 won - 85m 5 won - 25m 10 won - 46.5m

 

1970

1 won - 45m 5 won (old) 5 won (new) Total mintage: 50m
10 won (old) 10 won (new) Total mintage: 157m 100 won - 1.5m

 

1971

5 won - 64m 10 won - 220m 100 won - 13m

 

1972

5 won - 60m 10 won - 270m 50 won - 6m
100 won - 20m    
   

 

1973

10 won - 30m 50 won -  40m 100 won - 80m

 

1974

1 won -12m 10 won - 15m 50 won - 25m
100 won - 50m    
   

 

1975

1 won - 10m 10 won - 20m 100 won - 70m

 

1976

1 won - 20m

 

 

1977

1 won - 30m 5 won - 1m 10 won - 1m
50 won - 1m 100 won - 30m  
 

 

1978

1 won - 30m 5 won - 1m 10 won - 80m
 
50 won - 15m 100 won - 50m  
 

 

1979

1 won - 30m 5 won -1m 10 won - 200m
 
50 won - 20m 100 won - 130m  
 

 

1980

1 won - 20m 5 won - 0.1m 10 won - 150m
 
50 won - 10m 100 won - 60m  
 

 

1981

1 won - 20m 5 won - 0.1m 10 won - 0.1m
     
50 won - 25m 100 won - 0.1m  

 

1982

1 won - 30m 5 won - 0.1m 10 won - 20m
 
50 won - 40m 100 won - 70m 500 won - 15m

 

1983 - New simplified design

1 won - 40m 5 won - 6m 10 won - 8m
 
50 won - 50m 100 won - 130m 500 won - 64m

 

1984

1 won - 20m 50 won - 40m 100 won - 40m
500 won - 70m    
   

 

1985

1 won - 10m 10 won - 65m 50 won - 4m
100 won - 16m    
     

 

1986

10 won - 195m 100 won - 131m

 

1987

1 won - 10m 5 won - 1m 10 won - 155m
   
50 won - 32m 100 won - 170m 500 won - 1m

 

1988

1 won - 6.5m 5 won - 0.5m 10 won - 189m
50 won - 53m 100 won - 298m 500 won - 27m

 

1989

1 won - 10m 5 won - 0.5m 10 won - 310m
   
50 won - 70m 100 won - 250m 500 won - 25m

 

1990

1 won - 6m 5 won - 0.5m 10 won - 395m
 
50 won - 85m 100 won - 185m 500 won - 60m

 

1991

1 won - 5m 5 won - 0.5m 10 won - 300m
50 won - 80m 100 won - 400m 500 won - 90m

 

1992

10 won - 150m 50 won - 50m 100 won - 425m
500 won - 105m    
     

 

1993

10 won - 110m 50 won - 5m 100 won - 185m
500 won - 32m    
   

 

1994

10 won - 300m 50 won - 102m 100 won - 401m
500 won - 50.6m    
   

 

1995

1 won - 15k 5 won - 15k 10 won - 380m
   
50 won - 98m 100 won - 228m 500 won - 87m

 

1996

1 won - 15k 5 won - 15k 10 won - 290m
   
50 won - 52m 100 won - 447m 500 won - 122m

 

 

1997

1 won - 15k 5 won - 15k 10 won - 177m
   
50 won - 129m 100 won - 147m 500 won - 62m

 

1998

10 won - 93.008m 50 won - 28.008m 100 won - 5.008m
500 won - 8k    
     

 

1999

5 won - 10k 10 won - 377m 50 won - 15m
 
100 won - 332m 500 won - 22m  
 

 

2000

1 won - 30k 5 won - 30k 10 won - 355m
   
50 won - 86m 100 won - 423m 500 won - 128m
 

 

2001

1 won - 0.13m 5 won - 0.13m 10 won - 345m
   
50 won - 102m 100 won - 470m 500 won - 113m

 

2002

1 won - 0.122m 5 won - 0.122m 10 won - 100m
   
50 won - 100m 100 won - 490m 500 won - 110m
 

 

2003

1 won - 20k 5 won - 20k 10 won - 128m
   
50 won - 169m 100 won - 415m 500 won - 122m

 

2004

1 won - 25.5k 5 won - 25.5k 10 won - 135m
   
50 won - 100m 100 won - 250m 500 won - 45m
 

 

2005

1 won - 38k 5 won - 38k 10 won - 250m
   
50 won - 90m 100 won - 205m 500 won - 105m

 

2006

1 won - 53k 5 won - 53k 10 won (old) - 40.8m
   
10 won (new) - 109.2m 50 won - 120m 100 won - 310m
500 won - 170m    
     

 

2007

1 won 5 won 10 won
 
50 won 100 won 500 won
 

 

2008

1 won 5 won 10 won
   
50 won 100 won 500 won
 

 

 

 

Special thanks to Topher for contributing.

 

 

 

 

 

06 February, 2010