2506) 150th Anniversary of Railways in Japan (1872-2022): The Japan Mint has issued a 1,000 Yen Silver Coin to commemorate the milestone: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04.10.2022:

2506) 150th Anniversary of Railways in Japan (1872-2022): The Japan Mint has issued a 1,000 Yen Silver Coin to commemorate the milestone: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04.10.2022:

The Japanese Ministry of Finance is issuing a One-Ounce Silver Coin with a face value of 1,000 Yen to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Railways in Japan (1872-2022). 

The Obverse & Reverse of the 1,000 Yen Silver Coin placed against a representation of the original train which started operations in 1872

On 14.10.1872, a Railway connecting Shimbashi Station in Tokyo to the city of Yokohama, (the TAKANAWA Railway), a few miles South of the Capital opened to the general public. 

This was Japan’s first railway which ran for 29.00 kilometers between Shimbashi and Yokohama, over shallow water. 

Plans for the rail line between Yokohama and Tokyo were announced in 1870 and it immediately became “an emblem of civilization and enlightenment”.

The Silver Coin:

The Obverse and Reverse of the 1,000 Yen Silver Coin placed side-by-side.

The Coin design was inspired by a famous "Nishiki-e" ("Colour Woodblock Print") also called "Edo-e", of the Takanawa Railway (presently owned by the Minato Coty Local History Museum, Tokyo) The design was created by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi with the help of Utagawa Toshinobu.

"Edo" was the Japanese Capital at that time.

The design is based on the restored Old Shimbashi Station which retains the appearance of the station building at the time of the railway’s opening.

The Colour Woodblock Print exhibits one of the technical stages of the colouring of Japanese prints.

The Obverse of the 1,000 Yen Silver Coin features a design based on part of a "Nishiki-e" ("Colour Woodblock Print") of the Takanawa Railway. 

 At the top and bottom of the side is the denomination "日本国千円" (“Japan Thousand Yen”). 

The Reverse of the 1,000 Yen Silver Coin features a design based on the restored Old Shimbashi Station, which retains the appearance of the building at the time of the railway’s opening in 1872. 

The legend "鉄道開業150年" (“150th Anniversary of Railway Opening”) runs clockwise across the top while the denomination "1000 YEN" and the date "令和4年" (“Reiwa Year 4”) run counterclockwise along the bottom.

The specifications of this Silver Coin are:

Country: Japan; Date/Year of issue: 04.10.2022; Coin Theme: "150th Anniversary of the Railway in Japan (1872-2022)"; Denomination/Face value: 1,000 Yen; Metal Composition: Pure Silver (Ag); Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.00 oz; Diameter/Size: 40.00 mm; Predominant Colours: White, gray, black, sky blue, blue, red, ochre, and green; Mint: Japan Mint; Other features: Helical ridges; Mintage: 70,000 pieces; Designers: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi with the help of Utagawa Toshinobu.

About the Japan Mint:

The Japan Mint is headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Since it was established in 1871, the Mint has been responsible for producing coins for Japan. 

Today, it produces circulating coins and state-of-the-art collector coins in a variety of metals, including silver and gold.

Links to interesting posts on Coins & Banknotes of Japan:

1) Coins and Currency/Banknotes of the Japanese Yen

2) The Era of "Reiwa", Japan: New Banknotes and Coins will be introduced by the Bank of Japan to bring in the new Era in Japanese monarchy: Banknote issue scheduled for 2024; Coin issue scheduled for 2021

3) Japanese Trade Dollars: Niue Island in partnership with East India Company Bullion Ltd. has issued the fourth coin in the five-coin series titled "The Trade Dollar Collection" depicting five Trade Dollar Coins which shaped commerce in various parts of the world: A Gold 250 Dollar and a Silver 1 Dollar issued in 2019

4) Annual Proof and Mint Sets, Japan: Coin sets and Coins, which will be available to cellectors through 2020, together-with complimenting medals

5) Amaterasu, Sun Goddess (Japan), Niue Island: The first Coin in the Coin Series titled "Divine Faces of the Sun": A $5 (Five Dollars - NZD) Coin minted by Mint XXI, Poland depicting the Celestial Goddess: Year of Coin issue: 2021

6) Mount Olympus, Mont Saint-Michel & Mount Fuji, France: Gold & Silver Coins issued by Monnaie de Paris on these UNESCO World Heritage Sites in phases during 2-20: Mount Olympus Coins issued on 07.07.2020

7) Himeji Castle (Japan), Kingdom of Cambodia: First coin in the "Landmarks of Asia Coin Series": A 5,000 Riel Silver Proof Coin minted by The Singapore Mint on behalf of the Republic of Cambodia: Coin issue Year: 03/2020

8) "The Great Wave off Kanagawa", Niue Islands: A $1 (One Dollar) Silver Coin issued/minted by the Mint of Poland on behalf of Niue Island: Year of Coin issue: 2020

9) New Bi-metallic 500-Yen Coins, Japan: The Finance Ministry of Japan in collaboration with the Mint of Japan is releasing these coins, which are scheduled for circulation in 11/2021

10) 150th Anniversary of the founding of Japan's Postal Service (1871-2021), Japan: Gold and Silver Proof Coins issued by the Mint of Japan, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Japan: Year of Coins issue: 2021

11) Did You Know Series (61): The tale of the Japanese Akita dog "Hachiko" whose loyalty to his master continued much after his Master Hidesaburo Uena had passed away, inspiring a nation

12) "Kiyomizu-dera Temple", Japan: National Treasures of Japan Medals/Coins: The Japan Mint has issued Gold and Silver Medals depicting this iconic Buddhist Temple: Datw of Coin issue: 2022

13) 150th Anniversary of Railways in Japan (1872-2022): The Japan Mint has issued a 1,000 Yen Silver Coin to commemorate the milestone: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04.10.2022