1832) New Bi-metallic 500-Yen Coins, Japan: The Finance Ministry, in collaboration with the Mint of Japan is releasing these coins, which are scheduled for circulation in 11/2021:
Japan is issuing newly redesigned ¥500 circulation type coins (U.S. $4.59) beginning from 11/2021.
The Finance Ministry (MoF), in collaboration with the Mint of Japan, are planning to produce around 200 million of the new coins in fiscal 2021.
The MoF also announced that approximately five billion 500-yen coins currently in circulation will continue to be legal tender.
Reasons for delay in introduction of the new 500-Yen Coin Variant:
These coins were earlier scheduled for release in 04/2021, but their issue got delayed as updates/upgrades in Automated Ticket and Vending Machines (ATVMs), as well as, Automated Teller Machines ATMs) could not be completed due to the Wuhan Virus pandemic.
The new ¥500 coins, now minted as bi-metallic pieces for general circulation are meant to further prevent counterfeiting and are the first re-designs in terms of a change in their metallic structure since 2000.
The new coins do not differ greatly from the current design seen on the Obverse or Reverse.
Evolution/History of the 500-Yen Coins:
First introduced into use in 1982, 500-Yen coins were intended to replace banknotes of the same denomination.
Minted in cupro-nickel, the coins feature a paulownia floral design on the Obverse, while the Reverse was designed with the denomination, bamboo, and Tachibana.
The coin included incused lettering on the edge which read "500 YEN" alternating with "JAPAN".
With a weight of 7.2 grams and a diameter of 26.5 mm, these versions remained in use until 1999 when the Finance Ministry decided to change the coins’ composition owing to frequent counterfeits found in ticket and vending machines.
As the coins’ face value and purchasing power make it one of the highest valued coins in use around the world, this resulted in 500-yen coins becoming a prime choice for counterfeiters.
New version 500-yen coins were minted in 2000 with a composition of copper, zinc, and nickel, which resulted in a golden colour to distinguish them from the previous issue, their weight was also slightly reduced to seven grams.
The new coins also displayed a diagonal reeding on the edge and included a latent image effect on the reverse side where the numeral 500 appeared.
Since these are the highest value coins in circulation, this denomination is often issued by the Ministry of Finance for commemorative releases beginning in 1985:
The first bi-metallic 500-Yen commemorative coins were issued in 2008, which were part of the 47 Prefectures of Japan Coin Programme and issued over an eight-year time-frame.
In 2019, the most recent bi-metallic commemorative 500-yen coins were issued on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Accession of Emperor Akihito and a separate coin for the Accession of Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito.
These were the first coins to be minted in line with the new security features now incorporated in the circulation type 500-yen coins.
The new 500-Yen Coins (2021 issue):
The new coins feature modern anti-counterfeiting technology such as a bi-metallic three-layer, or bicolour, clad structure. Another significant difference is on the edge of the coins, which use contour reeding, utilising helical ridges with varied shaping.
As the coins are minted in a bi-metallic format, the different colour metals are easily visible.
The centre of the coin is comprised of cupro-nickel, while the outer ring is golden nickel-brass. Aside from an increase in weight to 7.1 grams, the coin’s diameter of 26.5 mm remains the same as it has been since 1982.
The overall design remains the same except for a missing bamboo leaf under 500, which is now replaced by the date in Japanese characters reflecting the Emperor’s Era.
Additional security features such as "JAPAN" and "500 YEN" will be applied to the edge of the coin using incused micro-lettering and seen on four sides of the coin’s Obverse.
A latent image effect is also integrated onto the numeral 500 with the word JAPAN seen in a vertical direction.
It is believed all of the new coins will be dated with the third year of Reiwa, the regnal name of Emperor Naruhito, which began on the 1st May.
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