500 yen coin (commemorative) Denomination of the Japanese yen
For circulating currency of the same denomination, see
500 yen coin .
Five-hundred yen Value 500 Japanese yen Edge Reeded Composition Varies by issue Years of minting 1985–2020[ a] Catalog number - Design Varies by year Design Varies by year
The 500 yen coin (五百円硬貨 , Gohyaku-en kōka ) is a denomination of the Japanese yen . In addition to being used as circulating currency, this denomination has also been used to make commemorative coins struck by the Japan Mint . These coins are intended for collectors only and were never issued for circulation.
Composition
Commemorative coins
Throughout the coin's history, the Japan Mint has issued 500 yen coins commemorating the various subjects of Japan's history. Early commemorative coins minted under the Shōwa era have their dates of reign written in Kanji script. This practice was later replaced by adding Arabic numerals to reflect the current Emperor's year of reign.
1985–1999 (Cupronickel)
Image
Japanese date
Gregorian date
Mintage[ b]
Reason
六十 (60)Shōwa [ c]
1985
70,000,000[ 1]
Tsukuba Exposition '85 [ 2]
六十 (60) Shōwa
1985
70,000,000[ 3]
Centennial of the Foundation of the Cabinet System [ 4]
六十一 (61) Shōwa
1986
50,000,000[ 5]
Hirohito's 60th year of reign[ 6]
六十二 (62) Shōwa
1987
01 Unknown[ 7]
Hirohito's 60th year of reign
63 Shōwa
1988
20,000,000[ 8]
Opening of Seto Bridge [ 9]
63 Shōwa
1988
20,000,000[ 10]
Opening of Seikan Tunnel (1988)[ 11]
2Heisei
1990
30,000,000[ 12]
Enthronement of Emperor Akihito [ 13]
四 (4) Heisei
1992
19,950,000[ 14] (50,000)
020 20th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japan[ 15]
五 (5) Heisei
1993
29,800,000[ 16] (200,000)
Wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito[ 17]
6 Heisei
1994
19,900,000[ 18] (100,000)
Opening of Kansai International Airport [ 19]
6 Heisei
1994
09 9,900,000[ 20] (100,000)
1994 Asian Games - Running[ 21]
6 Heisei
1994
09 9,900,000[ 22] (100,000)
1994 Asian Games - Swimming[ 23]
6 Heisei
1994
09 9,900,000[ 24] (100,000)
1994 Asian Games - Jumping[ 25]
9 Heisei
1997
19,867,000[ 26] (133,000)
Nagano Olympics (Snowboarding) [ 27]
9 Heisei
1997
19,867,000[ 28] (133,000)
Nagano Olympics (Bobsledding)[ 29]
10 Heisei
1998
19,867,000[ 30] (133,000)
Nagano Olympics (Acrobatic Skier)[ 31]
11 Heisei
1999
14,900,000[ 32] (Unknown)
010 10th anniversary of the enthronement of Akihito[ 33]
2002–2009 (Nickel-brass)
Image
Japanese date
Gregorian date
Mintage
Reason
14 Heisei[ d]
2002
10,000,000
2002 FIFA World Cup - (Europe & Africa)[ 34]
14 Heisei
2002
10,000,000
2002 FIFA World Cup - (Asia & Oceania)[ 35]
14 Heisei
2002
10,000,000
2002 FIFA World Cup - (North & South America)[ 36]
17 Heisei
2005
08 8,241,000
EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN [ 37]
17 Heisei
2005
03 50,000[ e] (Silver )
Opening of Chūbu Centrair International Airport [ 38]
19 Heisei
2007
06 6,600,000
50th anniversary of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition[ 39]
20 Heisei
2008
04 4,800,000
Centenary of Japanese Immigration to Brazil - Japan-Brazil Year of Exchange[ 40]
21 Heisei
2009
09 9,950,000[ f]
020 20th anniversary of the enthronement of Akihito[ 41]
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.
Various obverse designs have been used for the different prefectures (Nagano shown here)
Reverse design for the Local Autonomy Law series
Japanese date
Gregorian date
Prefecture [ 42]
Mintage[ 43]
Elements depicted
20
2008
Hokkaido
2,100,000
Lake Toya and the former Hokkaido government office building [ 44] [ 45]
Kyoto
2,050,000
Scene 2 from Chapter 49 of The Tale of Genji [ 46] [ 47]
Shimane
1,970,000
Dōtaku discovered from the Kamoiwakura Remains in Unnan City [ 48] [ 49]
21
2009
Nagano
1,830,000
Zenkoji Temple and an Ox (Bodhisattva of Mercy )[ 50] [ 51]
Niigata
1,840,000
Pair of Japanese Crested Ibises and Rice Terrace [ 52] [ 53]
Ibaraki
1,870,000
Kairakuen Garden and Japanese Apricot Tree[ 54] [ 55]
Nara
1,800,000
Kentoshi-sen (ships used for royal envoys to China during the Tang dynasty )[ 56] [ 57]
22
2010
Kochi
1,960,000
Bust of Sakamoto Ryōma (born in Kōchi)[ 58] [ 59]
Gifu
1,860,000
Shirakawa-go and Chinese milk vetch [ 60] [ 61]
Fukui
1,830,000
Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus (discovered in the prefecture)[ 62] [ 63]
Aichi
1,950,000
Aichi Prefectural Government Office and rabbit-ear iris [ 64] [ 65]
Aomori
1,900,000
Sannai-Maruyama Site and Clay Figurine[ 66] [ 67]
Saga
1,910,000
Ōkuma Shigenobu , and his associated craft Saga Nishiki [ 68] [ 69] [ g]
23
2011
Toyama
1,800,000
Owara Kaze-no-bon Festival[ 70]
Tottori
1,770,000
Sanbutsu-ji Temple (The Nageire Hall)[ 71]
Kumamoto
1,870,000
Kumamoto Castle [ 72]
Shiga
1,770,000
Biwa Catfish and Round Crucian Carp [ 73]
Iwate
1,790,000
Kyokusui-no-en (Water Poetry Party) at Mōtsū-ji temple[ 74]
Akita
1,740,000
Nobu Shirase and the Akita Kantō festival[ 75]
24
2012
Okinawa
1,760,000
Naha Tug-of-war and Eisa Folk dance [ 76]
Kanagawa
1,890,000
Daibutsu (Great Buddha) of Kamakura [ 77]
Miyazaki
1,740,000
Miyazaki Prefectural Government - Main Building[ 78]
Tochigi
1,800,000
Nemuri-neko (Sleeping cat) and Sparrows (sculptures)[ 79]
Oita
1,790,000
Usuki Stone Buddha [ 80]
Hyōgo
1,800,000
Pair of Oriental storks [ 81]
25
2013
Miyagi
1,700,000
Sendai Tanabata Festival [ 82]
Hiroshima
1,700,000
Atomic Bomb Dome and Memorial Park [ 83]
Gunma
1,720,000
Keystone , and a female worker from the Tomioka Silk Mill [ 84]
Okayama
1,660,000
Okayama Korakuen Garden [ 85]
Shizuoka
1,700,000
Mount Fuji and a tea plantation [ 86]
Yamanashi
1,670,000
Mount Fuji and grapes [ 87]
Kagoshima
1,660,000
Mount Sakurajima [ 88]
26
2014
Ehime
1,650,000
Nishiseto Expressway and the islands of Ehime[ 89]
Yamagata
1,660,000
Jōmon Dogū (prehistoric goddess figure)[ 90]
Mie
1,670,000
Kumano Kodō Iseji [ 91]
Kagawa
1,630,000
Scenery of Sanuki as viewed from Kotohira-gū shrine[ 92]
Saitama
1,780,000
Saitama Stadium 2002 [ 93]
Ishikawa
1,660,000
Mount Haku as seen from Kibagata Park and the Abare Festival [ 94]
27
2015
Yamaguchi
1,610,000
Five-story pagoda of Ruriko-ji Temple[ 95]
Tokushima
1,630,000
Awa Dance Festival [ 96]
Fukuoka
1,680,000
Kyushu National Museum , Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine, and Plum Blossoms [ 97]
Wakayama
1,610,000
Nachi Falls [ 98]
Osaka
1,700,000
Burial mound of Emperor Nintoku [ 99]
Nagasaki
1,600,000
Oura Cathedral and a stained glass rose window [ 100]
Chiba
1,680,000
Kujūkuri Beach [ 101]
28
2016
Fukushima
1,620,000
Sōma's Nomaoi Festival [ 102]
Tokyo
1,720,000
Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Building)[ 103]
2017–present
Notes
^ Non consecutive
^ Proof mintages are in parentheses
^ 60th year of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito)'s reign, Emperor Heisei (Akihito ) was not crowned emperor until 1989
^ 14th year of Emperor Heisei (Akihito )'s reign
^ This is the only silver 500 yen commemorative coin ever issued
^ 50,000 proof coins were made
^ Shigenobu introduced Saga Nishiki and Kashima Nishiki overseas[ 68]
^ 30,000 of these coins were issued alongside their 10,000 yen counterparts via coin sets.
References
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 88 Yr.60(1985)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation . Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [1] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 89 Yr.60(1985)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [2] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 90 Yr.61(1986)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [3] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 90 Yr.62(1987)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 94 Yr.63(1988)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ "Seto Bridge Opening 500 yen Cupronickel Coin" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 93 Yr.63(1988)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [4] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 102 Yr.2(1990)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [5] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 106 Yr.4(1992) Proof" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [6] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 107 Yr.5(1993)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [7] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 110 Yr.6(1994)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [8] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 111 Yr.6(1994)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [9] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 112 Yr.6(1994)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [10] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 113 Yr.6(1994)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [11] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 114 Yr.9(1997)" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [12] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 117 Yr.9(1997) Proof" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [13] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 118 Yr.10(1998) Proof" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [14] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 500 Yen Y# 123 Yr.11(1999) Proof" . Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2019 .
^ [15] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [16] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [17] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [18] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [19] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [20] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [21] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [22] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ [23] Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
^ "Japan 47 Prefectures Coin Program" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Commemorative Coins issued up to now" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Hokkaido Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Hokkaido 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Kyoto Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Kyoto 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Shimane Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Shimane 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Nagano Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Nagano 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Niigata Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Niigata 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Ibaraki Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Ibaraki 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Nara Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Nara 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Kōchi Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Kōchi 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Gifu Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Gifu 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Fukui Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Fukui 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Aichi Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Aichi 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Aomori Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Aomori 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ a b "Summary of Saga Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Saga 500 Yen commemorative coin" . Japan Mint . Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Toyama Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Tottori Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Kumamoto Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Shiga Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Iwate Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Akita Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Okinawa Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Kanagawa Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Miyazaki Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Tochigi Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Ōita Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Hyōgo Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Miyagi Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Hiroshima Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Gunma Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Okayama Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Shizuoka Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Yamanashi Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Kagoshima Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Ehime Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Yamagata Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Mie Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Kagawa Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Saitama Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Ishikawa Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Yamaguchi Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Tokushima Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Fukuoka Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Wakayama Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Osaka Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Nagasaki Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Chiba Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Fukushima Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ "Summary of Tokyo Prefecture" . Japan Mint . Retrieved April 5, 2019 .
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Japan: Designs for Olympic-themed 500-yen commemorative coins unveiled Coin Update (news.coinupdate.com). Retrieved on 2019-08-02.
External links
Topics Circulating currency (Japanese yen )
Historical coinage
Historical banknotes
Commemoratives