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Japan
Issues Its First Colorized Coin
Japan's
first colored coins commemorate the 5th Winter Asian Games.
They will be available shortly before the Games begin in Aomori
on February 1, 2003. Aomori, literally "blue-green forest,"
was named for the year-round green woods that originally covered
the area.
The
coin features red apples plus the red, white and blue official
emblem of the Games. Production of Aomori apples started from
just three trees in 1875. Now, they pride themselves on being
the largest apple producing area in Japan, and they claim
to produce the highest quality apples in the world.
The
other side pictures a downhill skier and a speed skater. Approximately
1,200 athletes and officials from some 30 countries and regions
will participate in 54 sporting events including Alpine Skiing,
Cross-country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Speed Skating,
Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, and Curling.
The
5th Winter Asian Games 1,000 Yen coin is 1 troy oz. 999
fine silver Proof quality, packaged in a plastic case accompanied
by an illustrated leaflet with a certificate of authenticity.
Mintage is limited to 50,000 pieces. The Mint Bureau, Ministry
of Finance, Japan indicates that this "1,000 yen silver
coin is what we call a 'Premium coin' which is a commemorative
coin whose production cost exceeds its face value and is
sold by the government at a price above its face value."
Official American distributor PandaAmerica offers them at
$99 each.
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here to go to shopping cart page
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