ITTENDO Story Series
Coin Stories — Histories Behind Each Coin
From the Keicho Koban of 1601 to Meiji-era gold pieces — long-form editorial features that uncover the people, the politics, and the economy behind each Japanese antique coin.
StoryNagano Olympic Commemorative 10,000-Yen Gold Coins | Designs and Specifications of Series 1–3
Gold coins issued in three series to commemorate the Nagano Olympic Winter Games. Obverse: ski jumping, figure skating and speed skating; reverse: gentian. Pure gold, 15.6 g, 26.0 mm in diameter, 55,000 of each.
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StoryNagano Olympic Commemorative 5,000-Yen Silver Coins | Three Designs and Issue Record
Silver coins issued in three series to commemorate the Nagano Olympic Winter Games. Obverse: ice hockey, biathlon and Paralympic alpine skiing; reverse: Japanese serow. Silver alloy (silver 925, copper 75), 15.0 g, 30.0 mm in diameter, 5,000,000 of each.
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StoryEmperor's Accession Commemorative 500-Yen Cupronickel Coin (Heisei 2, 1990) | Design and Specifications
Issued to commemorate the Enthronement Ceremony of 12 November 1990. Obverse: the Special Imperial Procession Carriage; reverse: chrysanthemum crest and court attire patterns. 13.0 g, 30.0 mm in diameter, 30,000,000 issued. Also compared with the Reiwa accession coins.
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StoryEmperor's 60th Year of Reign Commemorative 500-Yen Cupronickel Coin | Design, Specifications and Mintage
Issued in Shōwa 61 (1986) to commemorate the 60th year of Emperor Shōwa's reign. Obverse: the Shishinden hall; reverse: chrysanthemum crest. 13.0 g, 30.0 mm in diameter, 50,000,000 issued.
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StoryCrown Prince's Wedding Commemorative Coins | 50,000-Yen Gold, 5,000-Yen Silver and 500-Yen Cupronickel
Three coins issued in Heisei 5 (1993) to commemorate the wedding of the Crown Prince (the present Emperor). All show two auspicious cranes on the obverse (with waves on the gold and 500-yen coins, auspicious clouds on the silver), and the chrysanthemum crest with the azusa, the Crown Prince's personal emblem, on the reverse.
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StoryEmperor's Accession Commemorative 100,000-Yen Gold Coin (Heisei 2, 1990) | Design, Weight and Issue Record
Issued to commemorate the Enthronement Ceremony of 12 November 1990. Obverse: phoenix and auspicious clouds; reverse: chrysanthemum crest with paulownia and arabesque. Pure gold, 30.0 g, 33.0 mm in diameter, 2,000,000 issued.
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StoryNagano Olympic Commemorative 500-Yen Cupronickel Coins | How the Three Types Differ
Cupronickel coins issued in three series to commemorate the Nagano Olympic Winter Games. Obverse: snowboarding, bobsleigh and freestyle skiing; reverse: rock ptarmigan. 7.2 g, 26.5 mm in diameter, 20,000,000 of each.
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Read by era — verified reference articles
Our stories are being checked against primary sources and will return one by one after editorial approval. Meanwhile, the encyclopedia entries and complete records below cover the same eras.
Ancient Coins
23 stories under reviewMedieval Coins
16 stories under reviewNo published encyclopedia entries yet.
Holed Coins (Ana-sen)
18 stories under reviewEdo Gold
21 stories under reviewEdo Silver
20 stories under reviewModern
19 stories under reviewWartime Coins
11 stories under reviewNo published encyclopedia entries yet.
Commemorative
8 stories under review- Tokyo Olympic Commemorative Coins
- Expo Commemorative Coins
- 60th Anniversary of Emperor's Reign Commemorative Coins
- Emperor's Enthronement Commemorative Coins
- Nagano Olympic Commemorative Coins
- 60th Anniversary of Local Autonomy Law Commemorative Coins
- Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Commemorative Coins
- Crown Prince's Wedding Commemorative Coins