Japan starts minting coins stamped with new imperial era 'Reiwa'

Five-hundred-yen coins, inscribed with Chinese characters reading "Reiwa Gannen" and their edges milled, were discharged from a machine capable of minting 750 coins per minute at a factory that was shown to media.

Aren't they Japanese characters? There was a point made when it was first announced that the "gengo" came from Japanese kanji.

Present gold price is about ¥5,300 per 1g. 20g gold is about ¥106,000. The price of anniversary coins is ¥140,555. A little bit expensive?

Present gold price is about ¥5,300 per 1g. 20g gold is about ¥106,000. The price of anniversary coins is ¥140,555. A little bit expensive?

Yeah, sure are! They often make commemorative coins like these when some major event happens, and the people snap them up like crazy!

I actually got a gold commemorative coin, (10,000円 Nagano Olympic） once, in change at a small mom and pop store here. I actually returned it to the store, after I realized I had received it, and didnt feel right accepting it.

The owner, an old grandmother, didnt even realize she was giving it to me at the time, she thought it was a 500円 coin at the time!

This is a list of the commemorative coins that have been minted here.

https://www.mof.go.jp/english/currency/coin/commemorative_coins/list.htm

> The mint also began production on Thursday of 10,000-yen and 500-yen coins commemorating the emperor's enthronement. The 10,000-yen coin, made of 20 grams of pure gold, features a phoenix symbolizing the imperial family on one side and the imperial chrysanthemum seal on the other. Priced at 140,555 yen, orders will be accepted online or through the post until July 31.

I wonder if these are actually 100,000円 coins, like were minted in 1990 for the Heisei Emperor's enthronement!

500￥is not equivalent to US$5. lets not inflate exchange rates here.

1 JPY is equivalent to 0.00921710 USD.

500￥is not equivalent to US$5. lets not inflate exchange rates here.

Whom are you addressing? I don't see anyone talking about dollars, US or otherwise, other than yourself.

On first glance that leafy thingy reminded me of a stylized mary-jane leaf. Happy Days in ReiWa.

If you add up all the coins it comes to 666.  Which goes to prove the devil is in the detail.

And?

Yubaru: I’m sure you are aware that Kanji are Chinese characters, same as English uses Roman characters, not English characters.

English uses Roman characters, not English characters.

The Roman era ended around 500AD. The letter J was not part of the English alphabet since 1200ish AD. So the above statement isn't entirely correct.

It was bound to happen.

"Priced at ￥140,555, orders will be accepted online or through the post until July 31."

A bit pricey, but the price depends mostly on quality, quantity & (of course) demand. The gold helps, but it's not the only factor to consider where collectors are concerned.

The Roman era ended around 500AD. The letter J was not part of the English alphabet since 1200ish AD. So the above statement isn't entirely correct.

English uses the Latin alphabet, this is an indisputable fact.

The Japan Mint has an online shop that sells mint proof coin sets from time to time. These are not too expensive and make nice keepsakes, especially for families who have a new baby born this year.

Wow nice.

I am surprised that they have minted a 1 yen coin, it is of little value and probably cost more to mint, rather than its face value. Has Japan thought about withdrawing the 1 yen coin?

Commemorative coins are always over priced, not just in Japan, though this price differential is exceptional. As a concurrent comparison there is a commemorative quarter sovereign being flogged here for the D Day landings and while it is more than the gold price it is no where near as eye wateringly over priced as this one.

I am surprised that they have minted a 1 yen coin, it is of little value and probably cost more to mint, rather than its face value. Has Japan thought about withdrawing the 1 yen coin?

Japan mints the 1 yen coin at a loss, but when you have a tax system that goes from 3% to 5% to 8% it's rather difficult to eliminate it.

@ Yubaru, the easy way around this would be to round up the tax to 10% it would be so much easier! then they could withdraw the 1 yen coin! ( I am just waiting for loads of thumb downs) haha

I’m sure you are aware that Kanji are Chinese characters, same as English uses Roman characters, not English characters..

If you want to go this route, then technically Korean Kanji uses Chinese characters as well.

The roots may be the same, but Japanese "kanji" and Chinese kanji are two different things. If Reiwa is Chinese, then it should be pronounced as it would be in Chinese, but it's not, it's Japanese characters!