In and Around the Bourse and the City of Philadelphia Thursday morning’s business meetings started early with authors, book dealers, and other publishers. I had an insightful conversation with officers of Tokyo’s Taisei Coins Corporation, a longtime partner with Whitman Publishing. In the 1970s legendary coin dealer Masamichi Oka, a brilliant marketer known as the […]
Japan: First coins unveiled for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Finance Ministry of Japan have unveiled (22nd February) the first series of Olympic coinage which is scheduled for release later in 2018. The first coins in the series comprise a gold design, two silver designs, and two base metal designs — all highlighting the various sports which will feature during the Games of the […]
New Japanese Silver Coin Celebrates Olympic Handover to Tokyo in 2020
The Mint of Japan has unveiled (August 24) two new silver coins inaugurating the start of their Olympic coin program as Tokyo prepares to host the XXXII Olympiad in 2020. The new coins mark the Olympic hand-over ceremony, in which a representative of the current host city hands over the Olympic flag to a representative […]
Japan Concludes 8-Year “Prefecture” Series with Coin Featuring Tokyo
The Mint of Japan has unveiled (May 18) the design of their last coin in an eight-year series that has highlighted each of Japan’s 47 prefectures. The latest coin pays tribute to the prefecture of Tokyo, where the country’s capital city of the same name is located. Tokyo was previously known by the name of […]
Next-to-Last Silver Coin Issued in Japan’s Popular Prefectures Series
The Mint of Japan has unveiled the next-to-last issue in its successful series of silver and color “Prefecture” Proof coins, which plans to honor all 47 administrative districts in Japan by the time the final piece is issued later this year. The designs of these crown-sized coins highlight the landmarks, cultural objects, and natural beauty of each area, […]
Japan Unveils Third Series of Earthquake Reconstruction Coins
The Mint of Japan has unveiled designs for the third series of Earthquake appeal reconstruction coins, scheduled to be officially launched early next year. The coins—part of an set of four gold and four silver pieces issued annually—were originally inaugurated as part of the country’s efforts to raise public and private funds to aid reconstruction […]
Osaka, Japan featured on Latest “Prefectures” Silver Coin
The Mint of Japan has unveiled (2nd October) its latest design in a series bearing motifs from every prefecture in Japan. The new coin features Osaka Prefecture, a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu, known for its modern architecture, as well as its historical connection to ancient Japan. In […]
Mint of Japan Announces Latest Prefecture Silver Coin
The Mint of Japan have announced their latest prefecture silver coin which features a well-known landmark or structure as its obverse design. This coin features the Kintaikyo Bridge, in the prefecture of Yamaguchi which is a historical wooden structure that consists of a series of five wooden arches and spans the Nishiki River in Iwakuni […]
New Coin Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Laos-Japan Diplomatic Relations
The Bank of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have announced a new commemorative coin which celebrates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Laotian government of the day and Japan. A former French protectorate in Southeast Asia and previously known as French-Indochina along with Vietnam and Cambodia since 1893, the kingdom […]
Silver Coin Marks 50th Anniversary of Shinkansen “Bullet Train” Opening
The Finance Ministry of Japan have authorized the issue of a new coin to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s Shinkansen, or new trunk line of high speed trains which began service in 1964. Often referred to as the “bullet train” due to its shape, the Shinkansen catapulted public transport into the modern age […]
