A sneak peek to the upcoming Reiwa coins, the first published in the new era. (Image via: KYODO)

Japan Starts Making Reiwa Coins

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
News Flash Japan
Jul 12, 2019
2795
Starting on 1 May, Japan entered a new era called ‘Reiwa’ as Emperor Akihito went down from the Chrysanthemum Throne, succeeded by his eldest son, Emperor Naruhito. The era ‘Reiwa’ itself was translated into ‘Beautiful Harmony’. The ascension of Emperor Naruhito marked the first abdication for 200 years and the end of the three-decade reign of Emperor Emeritus Akihito.

A mint factory in Osaka stated on Thursday that it had started minting coins engraved with the Chinese calligraphy of “Reiwa Gannen” (令和元年) or “Reiwa One”, indicating the first production year of mint coins for Reiwa era in Japan. The mint started by minting 100 and 500-yen coins. The minting of 1 and 10-yen coins will follow. The minting process is also done at mintings in Saitama and Hiroshima.

Japanese Minister of Finance, Taro Aso, got the honor to commence the production of the coins by hitting the start button of the production machine. The commencement ceremony was not only attended by the Minister of Finance but also by Vice Grand Steward of Imperial Household Agency, Yasuhiko Nishimura. Aso stated his delight that the minting for the new era has finally begun. He expected that by the end of July, the circulation of Reiwa coins could be done by the Bank of Japan.

Osaka-based minting factory predicted that by October 2019, all coins will be engraved with the name of the imperial era.

However, Thursday’s minting was quite special because, in order to commemorate the ascension of Emperor Naruhito, the Osaka minting minted 10,000-yen and 500-yen special edition coins. The 10,000-yen coin is made of 20 gr of pure gold, engraved with Phoenix as the symbol of the imperial family and Chrysanthemum insignia on the two sides of the coin.

The special edition coins will be sold at 140,555-yen and the minting will receive orders online or through post until the end of July.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/07/4d8916769f0e-japan-starts-minting-coins-stamped-with-new-imperial-era-reiwa.html

Economy , Japan , Reiwa , Minting , Coin , Currency , Japanese-Yen , JPY , Emperor-Naruhito , Chrysanthemum-Throne , Phoenix