615) Jirisan and Bukhansan National Parks, South Korea: Bank of Korea begins the National Parks series with new silver coins issued in 2017:

615) Jirisan and Bukhansan National Parks, South Korea: Bank of Korea begins the  National Parks series  with new silver coins issued in 2017:

The National Park Coin Series:

From 2017 onwards, each year, the Bank of Korea will be issuing two to four types of commemorative coins, including one depicting a national park located in the Baekdudaegan Mountains — the mountain range known as the backbone of Korea — and one to three more coins selected in consideration for the characteristics of each national park, the number of visitors, and regional distribution.

A total of eight mountains are designated as Baekdudaegan Mountains. They include Jirisan, Deogyusan, Songnisan, Woraksan, Sobaeksan, Taebaeksan, Odaesan, and Seoraksan (in order from south to north).

The Bank of Korea plans to issue a series of Korean national parks commemorative coins depicting all 22 Korean National Parks over a period not to exceed seven years, starting this year. The commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Korea will be acquired, packaged, and distributed by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO), the official mint for the Bank of Korea.

The Republic of Korea National Parks Commemorative Coin Series has commenced with the first coin honouring Jirisan this year, followed by the Bukhansan National Park.

The Bank of Korea has issued two new Proof-quality silver coins in 2017, which are dedicated to Korean National Parks in an effort to make the beauty of Korea’s natural environment and the future value of ecological preservation more widely known. 

The Obverse of the coin depicting the Bukhansan National Park.

The coins issued in 2017 are  the first in this new  series, which feature the National Parks of Jirisan and Bukhansan.

This year, in particular, marks the 50th anniversary of the designation of Jirisan as the first-ever National Park in Korea in 1967.

Bukhansan was chosen as one of the first national parks to be honoured, as it is the only national park in the Seoul metropolitan area and also has the greatest number of visitors among all mountainous national parks.

 The Obverse of this 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts a colour application of Cheonwangbong and the peaks of Jirisan. Cheonwangbong is the highest peak of Jirisan, reaching a height of 1,915 metres (6,280 feet).

The Reverse this 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts an Asiatic black bear and Korean winter hazel — two flagship and thriving species of Jirisan.

The Asiatic black bear is designated as a first-class endangered species, and a restoration program is currently being carried out in Jirisan. The bear is very distinctive as its chest has a half-moon shape of white fur. The Korean winter hazel is a Korean indigenous plant. This tree, together with the ginger plant, gives the region the first sign that spring has arrived. Its flowers are noted for their drooping appearance, similar to ears of rice.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 30,000 Won; Metallic Composition: .999 Silver; Weight: 14.0 grams; Diameter: 32.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied colour; No. of coins minted: 10,000; Year of minting: 2017; Minted by: Bank of Korea.

 The Obverse of the second 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts   a colour application of Baegundae, Insubong, and the Bukhansanseong Fortress.

Baegundae is the highest peak (reaching a height of 836 metres or 2,740 feet) of Bukhansan and features a large rock area at its top. Insubong is a major peak (with a height of 810 metres or 2,755 feet) of Bukhansan, along with Baegundae and Mangyeongdae.

It is the largest granite area in East Asia and is the most famous rock-climbing site in Korea. Bukhansanseong is a mountain fortress built in 1711, which was the 37th year of King Sukjong’s reign protecting Hanyang during the Joseon Dynasty.

The Reverse of the second 30,000 Won Silver coin depicts  shows the great spotted woodpecker and rocky forsythia, two thriving flagship species at Bukhansan National Park.

The great spotted woodpecker is a resident bird found throughout the Bukhansan area. Its main diet consists of caterpillars in tree trunks, and it has a large white shape on its shoulders. The male great spotted woodpecker also has a dark red, spotted pattern on the back of its neck.

Rocky forsythia is a Korean indigenous plant which has longer petals and a lighter colour than the forsythia.

The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: 30,000 Won; Metallic Composition: .999 Silver; Weight: 14.0 grams; Diameter: 32.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Applied colour; No. of coins minted: 10,000; Year of minting: 2017; Minted by: Bank of Korea.






Links to Korean Coinage & Currency posts on this blog:

1) Coinage & Currency of South Korea: (Part I): Historical Development of Coinage in South Korea

2) Coinage & Currency of South Korea: (Part II): Historical Development of Banknotes

3) PyeongChang 2018 or PyeongChang Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea from 09-25 Fen 2018 and Paralympics from 09-18 March 2018. A 2,000 Won Banknote issued by Bank of Korea on 17.11.2017

4) Jirisan and Bukhansan National Parks, South Korea: Bank of Korea commenced the National Park series with the issue of two silver 30,000 Won coins in 2017

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