Japan 2015 Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Project (3rd Series) 1,000 Yen Silver Coin

Description:

The Great East Japan earthquake happened on March 11, 2011. The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean over 40 miles east of the Tōhoku region on Honshu, the largest island in the Japanese archipelago. Besides being the most powerful earthquake ever to strike Japan, it produced a 133-foot tsunami that also contributed to the destruction. The earthquake and tsunami were responsible for the meltdown at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, a catastrophe rivaled by only the Chernobyl disaster in the Ukraine in 1986.

To commemorate efforts to rebuild the stricken area, the Japan Mint has minted a series of reconstruction project commemorative gold and silver coins. The .999 fine silver coin is part of the third series of designs for the program.

Obverse:

Perhaps the most charming design of the Great East Earthquake Reconstruction Commemorative Program, contest winner Taichi Kojima’s design depicts a small boy holding two Japanese flags, one in each hand. His blue shirt also bears a likeness of the flag. The boy is also wearing a red headband, green shorts and red tennis shoes. His speech is rendered in multi-colored Japanese characters.

The inscriptions for “Japan” and “1000 Yen” (rendered in Chinese characters) are also present.

Reverse:

The common reverse for all four current series of the commemorative program features a tableau of doves flying in front of a pine tree, which carries great symbolic significance. Referred to as the “Miracle Pine“, the effigy represents the solitary survivor of an approximately mile-long stretch of pine trees in Iwate prefecture long appreciated for its natural beauty. Iwate was hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and the scenic pine trees were obliterated. Only the “Miracle Pine” remained.

A ring with Japanese inscriptions encircles the central design, and a circle of small raised dots–similar to that found on the obverse–is also on the reverse. The inscriptions state that the coin was minted in the 27th year of the reign of Emperor Akihito, who assumed the throne upon the death of Emperor Shōwa–better known as Hirohito in the United States–in 1989. Hirohito was emperor of Japan during World War II.

Designer(s): The Japan Mint, along with the Ministry of Finance, held a public design competition for the second, third and fourth series of the Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction commemorative coin program. Taichi Kojima of Kanagawa Prefecture created the winning design for the third series gold coin obverse. Adjustments to the original design were made by the Japan Mint as necessary for coining.

Coin Specifications:

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