July 9, 2015 – On March 11, 2011, a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit eastern Japan, which killed more than 15,000 people and caused a nuclear crisis in Fukushima.
More than four years have passed since then. This year 2015 is the final year of the “concentrative reconstruction period,” during which the reconstruction project has been undertaken as a national project of Japan. In this milestone year, the Japan Mint will release commemorative 10,000 yen gold and 1,000 yen silver coins.
Japan / 2015 / 10,000 yen / Pure Gold / 15.6g / 26.0mm / Mintage: 14,000.
The obverse of the first series gold coin features “Special Zones for Reconstruction and Doves” in hope for the radiant future of the affected community, while that of the silver coin depicts “Large fishing boat and Ears of rice,” representing the regional industry: agriculture and fishery.
Japan / 2015 / 1,000 yen / Pure Silver / 31.1g / 40.0mm / Mintage: 60,000.
The reverse side is common in both gold and silver coins: “Miracle Pine and Doves.”
The collapsed Rikuzentakata Youth Hostel and the Miracle Pine Tree, the sole survivor of about 70,000 pine trees in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, after the 2011 East Japan Great Earthquake and its tsunami. Photograph: Jacob Ehnmark / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en.
Miracle Pine is the only pine tree that survived the tsunami in one of the most devastated area, after which it became known as a symbol of hope for people living there.
This Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Project Coin Program consists of four series. Through Spring 2016, the Japan Mint will release three more gold and silver coins with different obverse designs, which were chosen from the public submission.
To get to the website of the Japan Mint please click here.
More about the reconstruction of eastern Japan after the earthquake and the tsunami you can read here in the Economist.