Front: “Wabi Sabi” (侘寂)
Back: “Nothing lasts, nothing is perfect, nothing is complete. Imperfection is beauty, simplicity is truth.”

At a glance

• Theme: peace with imperfection
• Good for: perfectionism, a new home, a creative block, getting older, a relationship with its cracks
• Gift for: a perfectionist, a maker or artist, a potter, a partner, anyone who is hard on themselves
• Finishes: Antique Bronze (brass alloy), Antique Silver (brass alloy)
• Size: 39 mm, about 1 oz, die struck in the USA

The meaning

Wabi sabi is a Japanese way of seeing beauty in what is simple, worn and unfinished. It grew out of the tea ceremony, where 16th century tea masters such as Sen no Rikyu chose rough, handmade bowls over perfect ones. A cracked bowl repaired with gold, the art of kintsugi, comes from the same spirit.

The back sums up the idea in words many people now live by: nothing lasts, nothing is perfect, nothing is complete. The coin adds the conclusion: imperfection is beauty, simplicity is truth.

The design

The front carries WABI SABI across a full moon, with the two kanji 侘 and 寂 above and below, framed by small blossoms and curling clouds. The back sets the quote inside a simple ring, with a single small blossom between the two halves.

On good days and hard days

• On good days, it helps you enjoy things as they are, without waiting for them to be perfect.
• On hard days, when you are harsh on yourself or something breaks, it reminds you that nothing is perfect or complete, and that imperfection has its own beauty.

Carry it

Hold it when you catch yourself fixing something for the tenth time, or judging yourself for a flaw nobody else sees. One customer wrote that it carries one of their favorite Zen messages and is exceptionally well made.

Give it

One customer bought two, one for themselves and one for their partner, as a way of saying that the little things their partner calls flaws are what make them beautiful. It also suits a perfectionist, an artist or potter, and a new home that will never be quite finished.

Specs

• Diameter: 1.54 in (39 mm), about the size of a silver dollar
• Thickness: 2.7 mm
• Weight: about 1 oz (28 g)
• Material: brass alloy (Antique Bronze, Antique Silver)
• Made: die struck, minted in the USA
• Each coin is antiqued with a special patina so it looks like it has already been in circulation. The patina never settles the same way twice, so no two coins look exactly alike. Small variations in color and shading are normal, and they are what make your coin one of a kind.

Questions

What does wabi sabi mean?
A Japanese idea of beauty in imperfection, impermanence and simplicity. The two words are written 侘 and 寂.

What is a good gift for a perfectionist?
A gentle reminder that done and real is better than perfect. This coin says it on both sides.

Is wabi sabi related to kintsugi?
Yes. Kintsugi, repairing broken pottery with gold, is a practice that shows the wabi sabi spirit.

Other coins you might like

• Kaizen Coin: grow a little every day
• Samurai Spirit Coin: live by choice, not by chance
• This Too Shall Pass Coin: calm for hard seasons
• Amor Fati Coin: love your fate

Care: keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth. No polishing needed; the aged finish is part of the look.

Original design by EDC Reminder Coins, protected by copyright. We don't take custom orders.