Description
The yen is the official currency of Japan. The official currency symbol: ¥. The currency’s name is derived from a Japanese word that means “round.”
The currency was officially established in 1871 and replaced the Tokugawa currency (a 1601 monetary system). However, the firsts coins were issued one year before, in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 sen and 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 yen. The ½, 1 and 2 sen were launched in 1873. Almost 100 years later, the 50 and 100 yen coins were introduced, followed by the 500 yen coin minted in 1982.
The 500 Japanese yen coin front design features Paulownia leaves. The name of the country is presented on top and the denomination at the bottom.
The reverse of the coin presents the numerical denomination flanked by mandarin oranges leaves, bamboo leaves on top and at the bottom, and issue date in the Japanese – Shōwa era Calendar. This coin is part of the 1967 – 1988 (57 – 64) series; its rim is plain with lettering: NIPPON ◆ 5 00 ◆ NIPPON ◆ 5 00◆. Its color is silver.
Text: 日 本 国, 五 百 円, 500 円円 NIPPON 平 成 十 九 年.