Issued as part of Japan's commemorative program for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 due to the pandemic), this piece belongs to a sprawling series that eventually numbered over 50 individual designs across multiple denominations. The cycling issue was produced specifically in the Reiwa era, which opened in May 2019 with Emperor Naruhito's accession — making it among the earliest coins struck under the new reign name.
Japan Mint released these through collector sets and bank window sales rather than general circulation, keeping most examples in essentially unhandled condition from the outset.
Issued as part of Japan's commemorative program for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 due to the pandemic), this piece belongs to a sprawling series that eventually numbered over 50 individual designs across multiple denominations. The cycling issue was produced specifically in the Reiwa era, which opened in May 2019 with Emperor Naruhito's accession — making it among the earliest coins struck under the new reign name.
Japan Mint released these through collector sets and bank window sales rather than general circulation, keeping most examples in essentially unhandled condition from the outset.