The popularity of the United States' series of 50 State Quarters, issued from 1999 through 2008, probably inspired Japan to launched its most ambitious and most beautiful series of commemorative coins in 2008-commemorating the 47 Prefectures-and the series will run through 2016.
But while the State Quarters were issued in un-circulated condition, made from copper-nickel and issued by the millions, the large Prefecture 40mm. coins are being minted in gem proof quality from 99.9% pure silver, limited to 100,000 of each-and they picture local scenery, flora and fauna, etc. in full color.
Japan's current prefecture system was established by the Meiji government in July 1871. Although there were initially ...
Full Article: Japan's 2010 Proof Silver Coin Series Launch - WorldMintCoins.com
A Japanese-Turkish research team announced Monday the discovery of a British-minted gold coin and a Japanese silver coin from a Turkish warship that sank 120 years ago off Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture.
"Still there should be lots of gold coins" inside the ship Ertugrul, said Tufan Turanli, who heads the underwater archaeological team.
The gold coin, dated 1856, measures 2.2 cm in diameter and ...
Full Article: Team finds lost U.K., Japan coins - The Japan Times
Japan Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga announced in a press conference Tuesday the themes and designs for the Kyoto and Shimane Prefectures ¥1,000 and ¥500 commemorative coins.
The Kyoto design features a scene from "The Tale of Genji," the literary romantic classic set in Kyoto and written by Murasaki Shikibu in the eleventh century. The Shimane design depicts an oval-shaped coin minted in the 16th century at the Iwami GinZan silver mine in Shimane.
Entire article: Japan announces Kyoto and Shimane coin designs - CoinNews
The government will issue a commemorative ¥1,000 coin in October featuring a scene from "The Tale of Genji," the literary classic set in Kyoto, Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga said Tuesday.
Another ¥1,000 coin, to be released in December, will bear the image of an oval-shaped coin minted in the 16th century at the Iwami silver mine in Shimane Prefecture.
Entire article: 'Tale of Genji' to grace Kyoto coin - The Japan Times Online
Japan will issue a new colorized Hokkaido commemorative silver coin featuring Japanese red-crowned cranes, a symbol of Hokkaido, flying above Hokkaido’s Lake Toya.
Japan’s Finance Minister, Fukushiro Nukaga, made the announcement Tuesday in a press conference after a cabinet meeting. Mr. Nukaga said a 1,000-yen Hokkaido commemorative coin would be issued this July in time for the Group of Eight summit, which will be held in Hokkaido.
Entire article: Japan to Issue Hokkaido Commemorative Coin by G-8 Summit - CoinNews
A ¥1,000 coin bearing the design of Hokkaido's Lake Toya, the site of this year's Group of Eight summit, and Japanese red-crowned cranes, a symbol of Hokkaido, will be issued in time for the July 7-9 summit, the government said Tuesday.
The coin will be the first of 94 types — ¥500 and ¥1,000 coins for each of the 47 prefectures — to be minted over the next eight years to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law, the Finance Ministry said.
Entire article: Hokkaido coin to mark G8 summit - The Japan Times
Interest in large, oval Japanese coins and commemorative coins made of gold is deep-rooted among collectors, as exemplified by a recent bid of more than ¥30 million for a ¥2 gold coin issued in 1880.
The first commemorative coins issued in Japan were to mark the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games — 80 million silver ¥100 coins and 15 million silver ¥1,000 coins, the Finance Ministry said.
"They triggered a coin boom in Japan. At the peak, a ¥1,000 silver coin sold for nearly ¥20,000," said an official at Taisei Coins Corp., a major coin importer and seller in Tokyo.
Entire article: Antique, commemorative coins sparking collector boom - The Japan Times
The popularity of the United States' series of 50 State Quarters, issued from 1999 through 2008, probably inspired Japan to launched its most ambitious and most beautiful series of commemorative coins in 2008-commemorating the 47 Prefectures-and the series will run through 2016.
