With the price of copper seeing an unprecedented surge, some people in Japan have resorted to melting down 5 yen coins to sell the metal. However, whether these actions are legal remains a contentious debate. The phenomenon typically emerges in times of economic hardship when metal prices spike. Tribal knowledge suggests that it is unlawful, but officials have yet to commit to a definitive verdict.

In Japan, people highly value respect for the law, and any such instances of potentially illegal activities draw considerable attention. There's a fine line between resourcefulness and criminality that is being grappled with as many are desperate amid economic tumult. But there lies a debate on inherent value – melting coins could be seen as destroying national wealth.

In both the United States and the European Union, damaging or destroying currency is generally regarded as illegal. For instance, in the U.S, federal law prohibits mutilation of coins with an intention to use them for other than their originally intended uses. Thus, a similar situation in these regions would likely see swift legal repercussions.