Japan 2014 50th Anniversary of the Shinkansen Silver Proof Coin (with Iridescent Color Shining Technology)

The Japan Mint has struck this legal tender 1,000 yen silver coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the first Shinkansen train line. Shinkansen is an important national project which has been developed based on the basic plan of the nation as a major social infrastructure supporting the people’s lives and economic activities. This beautiful proof coin has a finely frosted relief against a mirror-like background created by the use of special techniques. Color printing has been used on the obverse, and the reverse has been treated with iridescent color shining technology, which uses micro-fabrication to make it shine with rainbow colors. Iridescent color shining technology applied to the reverse side of the coin utilizes microgrooves produced by high-precision technology to create an iridescent shine on a metal surface, by using the light interference effect. Different parts of the coin shine depending the direction or angle from which it is viewed.