Kids' Activities 03-2

Special 500-Yen Coins
Minted to Mark World Cup

	A set of three 500-yen coins commemorating the World Cup. (Kyodo News)

On April 5 in Osaka and Hiroshima, ceremonies were held as the Ministry of Finance's Mint Bureau began striking a series of 500-yen coins commemorating the 2002 World Cup. At the Osaka Bureau, 10 local fans wearing the uniform of Japan's national team counted down and cheered as Senior Vice-Minister of Finance Takayoshi Taniguchi pushed a button on a coining press, and the new 500-yen coins began to appear one after another.

There will be three denominations of commemorative coins: 10,000 yen, 1,000 yen, and 500 yen. The 10,000 and 1,000 yen coins have already been released. The 500-yen coins that are now being struck weigh seven grams and are composed of nickel and brass. There are three varieties of the 500-yen coins, each with a different design; one of them has a map of Europe and Africa, another a map of Asia and Oceania, and the third a map of North and South America. There are pictures of soccer players in relief under each of the maps. 30 million of the coins will be minted. They can be purchased at face value from banks and post offices beginning May 27, just before the World Cup kicks off. (Kyodo News)