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500 Yen - Heisei Wakayama
| Issuer | Japan Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 2015 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Thickness | 1.8 mm |
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| Obverse description | The central field features a detailed high-relief depiction of Nachi Falls, one of Japan's most celebrated waterfalls, with the three-storied pagoda of Seiganto-ji temple prominently positioned in the lower left foreground amid lush forested cliffs. The composition captures the scenic grandeur of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage site in Wakayama Prefecture. The legend 日 本 国 (State of Japan) arcs along the upper border of the nickel brass outer ring, while 五 百 円 (500 yen) runs along the lower border, all characters rendered in bold relief within decorative square cartouches. The prefecture name appears in both Latin script (WAKAYAMA) and Japanese characters (和歌山県) inscribed in the right-centre field. The coin is framed by a continuous beaded border along the outer rim. |
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| Edge | Slanted reeding with two different pitches |
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| Additional information |
Part of Japan's 47 Prefectures Coin Program, launched in 2008 to issue two commemorative 500 yen coins for each prefecture over a multi-year run. Wakayama Prefecture's coin was released in the program's later phases, by which time the bimetallic clad technology introduced in 2000 had already made Japan's 500 yen piece one of the most counterfeit-resistant coins in circulation anywhere. Wakayama's selection for the program rested partly on its status as the gateway to the Kii Peninsula's UNESCO-listed pilgrimage routes, designated in 2004.