500 yen coin (commemorative)
The Japan Mint strikes commemorative issues of the 500 yen coin with distinct designs from the circulating currency. These coins are intended for collectors only and were never issued for circulation. Early commemorative coins minted under the Shōwa era have their dates of reign written in kanji script.
500 yen coin (commemorative)
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- 500 yen coin · commemorative coin of Japan
- Region
- Japan
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Documentary summary
The Japan Mint strikes commemorative issues of the 500 yen coin with distinct designs from the circulating currency. These coins are intended for collectors only and were never issued for circulation. Early commemorative coins minted under the Shōwa era have their dates of reign written in kanji script.
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In this article
Overview
Overview
This practice was later replaced by adding Arabic numerals to reflect the current Emperor's year of reign.
Key facts
Key facts
• Country — Japan • Denomination — Five-hundred yen • Value — 500 • Unit — Japanese yen • Edge — Reeded • Composition — Varies by issue • Years Of Minting — 1985–2020 • Obverse Design — Varies by year • Reverse Design — Varies by year
1985–1999 (Cupronickel)
1985–1999 (Cupronickel)
• Image — Japanese date — Gregorian date — Mintage — Reason • — 六十 (60) Shōwa — 1985 — 70,000,000 — Tsukuba Exposition '85 • — 六十 (60) Shōwa — 1985 — 70,000,000 — Centennial of the Foundation of the Cabinet System • — 六十一 (61) Shōwa — 1986 — 50,000,000 — Hirohito's 60th year of reign • — 六十二 (62) Shōwa — 1987 — 01 Unknown — Hirohito's 60th year of reign • — 63 Shōwa — 1988 — 20,000,000 — Opening of Seto Bridge • — 63 Shōwa — 1988 — 20,000,000 — Opening of Seikan Tunnel (1988) • — 2 Heisei — 1990 — 30,000,000 — Enthronement of Emperor Akihito • — 四 (4) Heisei — 1992 — 19,950,000 (50,000) — reversion]] of Okinawa to Japan • — 五 (5) Heisei — 1993 — 29,800,000 (200,000) — Wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito • — 6 Heisei — 1994 — 19,900,000 (100,000) — Opening of Kansai International Airport • — 6 Heisei — 1994 — 09 9,900,000 (100,000) — 1994 Asian Games - Running • — 6 Heisei — 1994 — 09 9,900,000 (100,000) — 1994 Asian Games - Swimming • — 6 Heisei — 1994 — 09 9,900,000 (100,000) — 1994 Asian Games - Jumping • — 9 Heisei — 1997 — 19,867,000 (133,000) — Nagano Olympics (Snowboarding) • — 9 Heisei — 1997 — 19,867,000 (133,000) — Nagano Olympics (Bobsledding) • — 10 Heisei — 1998 — 19,867,000 (133,000) — Nagano Olympics (Acrobatic Skier) • — 11 Heisei — 1999 — 14,900,000 (Unknown) — 010 10th anniversary of the enthronement of Akihito
2002–2009 (Nickel-brass)
2002–2009 (Nickel-brass)
• Image — Japanese date — Gregorian date — Mintage — Reason • — 14 Heisei — 2002 — 10,000,000 — 2002 FIFA World Cup - (Europe & Africa) • — 14 Heisei — 2002 — 10,000,000 — 2002 FIFA World Cup - (Asia & Oceania) • — 14 Heisei — 2002 — 10,000,000 — 2002 FIFA World Cup - (North & South America) • — 17 Heisei — 2005 — 08 8,241,000 — EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN • — 17 Heisei — 2005 — 03 50,000 (Silver) — Opening of Chūbu Centrair International Airport • — 19 Heisei — 2007 — 06 6,600,000 — 50th anniversary of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition • — 20 Heisei — 2008 — 04 4,800,000 — Centenary of Japanese Immigration to Brazil - Japan-Brazil Year of Exchange • — 21 Heisei — 2009 — 09 9,950,000 — 020 20th anniversary of the enthronement of Akihito
2008–2016
2008–2016
• 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law • Starting in 2008, a program similar to the American 50 State Quarters was put into place which honors all 47 of Japan's prefectures. This was done by celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law in the form of 47 different commemorative coins (designs on obverse side). This program ran until 2016, concluding with the final issues for Tokyo and Fukushima. • Illustration — Various obverse designs have been used for the different prefectures (Nagano shown here) • Illustration — Reverse design for the Local Autonomy Law series • Japanese date — Gregorian date — Prefecture — Mintage — Elements depicted • 20 — 2008 — Hokkaido — 2,100,000 — Lake Toya and the former Hokkaido government office building • Kyoto — 2,050,000 — Scene 2 from Chapter 49 of The Tale of Genji • Shimane — 1,970,000 — Dōtaku discovered from the Kamoiwakura Remains in Unnan City • 21 — 2009 — Nagano — 1,830,000 — Zenkoji Temple and an Ox (Bodhisattva of Mercy) • Niigata — 1,840,000 — Pair of Japanese Crested Ibises and Rice Terrace • Ibaraki — 1,870,000 — Kairakuen Garden and Japanese Apricot Tree • Nara — 1,800,000 — Kentoshi-sen (ships used for royal envoys to China during the Tang dynasty) • 22 — 2010 — Kochi — 1,960,000 — Bust of Sakamoto Ryōma (born in Kōchi) • Gifu — 1,860,000 — Shirakawa-go and Chinese milk vetch • Fukui — 1,830,000 — Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus (discovered in the prefecture) • Aichi — 1,950,000 — Aichi Prefectural Government Office and rabbit-ear iris • Aomori — 1,900,000 — Sannai-Maruyama Site and Clay Figurine • Saga — 1,910,000 — Ōkuma Shigenobu, and his associated craft Saga Nishiki • 23 — 2011 — Toyama — 1,800,000 — Owara Kaze-no-bon Festival • Tottori — 1,770,000 — Sanbutsu-ji Temple (The Nageire Hall) • Kumamoto — 1,870,000 — Kumamoto Castle • Shiga — 1,770,000 — Biwa Catfish and Round Crucian Carp • Iwate — 1,790,000 — Kyokusui-no-en (Water Poetry Party) at Mōtsū-ji temple • Akita — 1,740,000 — Nobu Shirase and the Akita Kantō festival • 24 — 2012 — Okinawa — 1,760,000 — Naha Tug-of-war and Eisa Folk dance • Kanagawa — 1,890,000 — Daibutsu (Great Buddha) of Kamakura • Miyazaki — 1,740,000 — Miyazaki Prefectural Government - Main Building • Tochigi — 1,800,000 — Nemuri-neko (Sleeping cat) and Sparrows (sculptures) • Oita — 1,790,000 — Usuki Stone Buddha • Hyōgo — 1,800,000 — Pair of Oriental storks • 25 — 2013 — Miyagi — 1,700,000 — Sendai Tanabata Festival • Hiroshima — 1,700,000 — Atomic Bomb Dome and Memorial Park • Gunma — 1,720,000 — Keystone, and a female worker from the Tomioka Silk Mill • Okayama — 1,660,000 — Okayama Korakuen Garden • Shizuoka — 1,700,000 — Mount Fuji and a tea plantation • Yamanashi — 1,670,000 — Mount Fuji and grapes • Kagoshima — 1,660,000 — Mount Sakurajima • 26 — 2014 — Ehime — 1,650,000 — Nishiseto Expressway and the islands of Ehime • Yamagata — 1,660,000 — Jōmon Dogū (prehistoric goddess figure) • Mie — 1,670,000 — Kumano Kodō Iseji • Kagawa — 1,630,000 — Scenery of Sanuki as viewed from Kotohira-gū shrine • Saitama — 1,780,000 — Saitama Stadium 2002 • Ishikawa — 1,660,000 — Mount Haku as seen from Kibagata Park and the Abare Festival • 27 — 2015 — Yamaguchi — 1,610,000 — Five-story pagoda of Ruriko-ji Temple • Tokushima — 1,630,000 — Awa Dance Festival • Fukuoka — 1,680,000 — Kyushu National Museum, Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine, and Plum Blossoms • Wakayama — 1,610,000 — Nachi Falls • Osaka — 1,700,000 — Burial mound of Emperor Nintoku • Nagasaki — 1,600,000 — Oura Cathedral and a stained glass rose window • Chiba — 1,680,000 — Kujūkuri Beach • 28 — 2016 — Fukushima — 1,620,000 — Sōma's Nomaoi Festival • Tokyo — 1,720,000 — Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Building)
2017–present
2017–present
• Image — Japanese date — Gregorian date — Mintage — Reason • — 31 Heisei — 2019 — 5,000,000 — 30th anniversary of the enthronement of Akihito • — 元 (1) Reiwa — 2019 — 5,000,000 — Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum Throne • — 2 Reiwa — 2020 — 4,000,000 — 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics: Raijin • — 2020 — 4,000,000 — 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics: Fujin • 7 Reiwa — 2025 — Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai
Places
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Places
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- Japan
Composition
• Years — Material • 1985–1999 — 75% copper, 25% nickel (Cupronickel) • 2002–2009 — 72% copper, 20% zinc, 8% nickel (Nickel-brass) • 2008–present — 75% copper, 12.5% zinc, 12.5% nickel (Bi-metallic)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 88 Yr.60(1985).
- 2.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page07.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 3.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 89 Yr.60(1985).
- 4.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page08.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 5.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 90 Yr.61(1986).
- 6.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page11.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 7.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 90 Yr.62(1987).
- 8.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 94 Yr.63(1988).
- 9.Seto Bridge Opening 500 yen Cupronickel Coin. Japan Mint.
- 10.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 93 Yr.63(1988).
- 11.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page12.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 12.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 102 Yr.2(1990).
- 13.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page16.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 14.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 106 Yr.4(1992) Proof.
- 15.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page19.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 16.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 107 Yr.5(1993).
- 17.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page22.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 18.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 110 Yr.6(1994).
- 19.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page23.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 20.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 111 Yr.6(1994).
- 21.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page24.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 22.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 112 Yr.6(1994).
- 23.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page25.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 24.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 113 Yr.6(1994).
- 25.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page26.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 26.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 114 Yr.9(1997).
- 27.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page29.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 28.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 117 Yr.9(1997) Proof.
- 29.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page32.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 30.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 118 Yr.10(1998) Proof.
- 31.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page35.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 32.Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Japan 500 Yen Y# 123 Yr.11(1999) Proof.
- 33.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page37.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 34.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page40.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 35.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page41.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 36.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page42.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 37.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page47.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 38.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page48.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 39.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page50.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 40.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page52.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 41.http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/data/commemorative/page68.html Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
- 42.Japan 47 Prefectures Coin Program. Japan Mint.
- 43.Commemorative Coins issued up to now. Japan Mint.
- 44.Summary of Hokkaido Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 45.Hokkaido 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 46.Summary of Kyoto Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 47.Kyoto 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 48.Summary of Shimane Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 49.Shimane 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 50.Summary of Nagano Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 51.Nagano 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 52.Summary of Niigata Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 53.Niigata 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 54.Summary of Ibaraki Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 55.Ibaraki 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 56.Summary of Nara Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 57.Nara 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 58.Summary of Kōchi Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 59.Kōchi 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 60.Summary of Gifu Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 61.Gifu 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 62.Summary of Fukui Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 63.Fukui 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 64.Summary of Aichi Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 65.Aichi 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 66.Summary of Aomori Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 67.Aomori 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 68.Summary of Saga Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 69.Saga 500 Yen commemorative coin. Japan Mint.
- 70.Summary of Toyama Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 71.Summary of Tottori Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 72.Summary of Kumamoto Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 73.Summary of Shiga Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 74.Summary of Iwate Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 75.Summary of Akita Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 76.Summary of Okinawa Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 77.Summary of Kanagawa Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 78.Summary of Miyazaki Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 79.Summary of Tochigi Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 80.Summary of Ōita Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 81.Summary of Hyōgo Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 82.Summary of Miyagi Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 83.Summary of Hiroshima Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 84.Summary of Gunma Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 85.Summary of Okayama Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 86.Summary of Shizuoka Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 87.Summary of Yamanashi Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 88.Summary of Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 89.Summary of Ehime Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 90.Summary of Yamagata Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 91.Summary of Mie Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 92.Summary of Kagawa Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 93.Summary of Saitama Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 94.Summary of Ishikawa Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 95.Summary of Yamaguchi Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 96.Summary of Tokushima Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 97.Summary of Fukuoka Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 98.Summary of Wakayama Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 99.Summary of Osaka Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 100.Summary of Nagasaki Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 101.Summary of Chiba Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 102.Summary of Fukushima Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 103.Summary of Tokyo Prefecture. Japan Mint.
- 104.Commemorative Coins for the 30th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Ministry of Finance, Japan (www.mof.go.jp). Retrieved on 2018-08-08.
- 105.天皇陛下御即位記念五百円バイカラー・クラッド貨幣の図柄 Ministry of Finance, Japan (www.mof.go.jp). Retrieved on 2019-05-10.
- 106.Design of the 500-yen Commemorative Bicolor Clad Coin for the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Ministry of Finance, Japan (www.mof.go.jp). Retrieved on 2019-05-13.
- 107.Japan: Designs for Olympic-themed 500-yen commemorative coins unveiled Coin Update (news.coinupdate.com). Retrieved on 2019-08-02.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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