Coins of Japan: 100 and 1,000 yen silver coins of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics

[NewHikaru089]

In 1964, Japan hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics. Held from October 10th to October 24th, 1964, the Olympics held in Japan symbolized the nation's rebirth from the ashes of World War II, no longer seen as an enemy nation, but a peaceful one that reemerged on the world stage. The country's infrastructure had to be modernized in time to receive international tourists arriving to Japan to see the Olympics. One of the major infrastructure projects was the introduction of the Tokaido Shinkansen, described at the time as the fastest in the world. Also as part of hosting the 1964 Summer Olympics, Japan issued commemorative silver 100 and 1,000 yen coins marking the event.

[NewHikaru089]

(Y#78/JNDA#02-3) (Images courtesy of World Coin Gallery)

Utilizing 16 million ounces of silver, 80,000,000 100 yen silver coins were minted in 1964 to commemorate the Summer Olympics. None of the coins produced was said to have entered circulation as they were grabbed and stored away as collector's items. The obverse side featured the Olympic Flame and the Olympic Rings and the reverse side featured the coin's numerical denomination and text referencing the 1964 Summer Olympics.

[NewHikaru089]

(Y#80/JNDA#03-1) (Images courtesy of World Coin Gallery)

Minted in sterling silver (.925 silver), 15,000,000 1,000 yen coins were minted to commemorate the 1964 Summer Olympics. The obverse side featured an image of Mount Fuji overlaid on a wreath of cherry blossoms and the reverse side featured the coin's denomination, text referencing the 1964 Summer Olympics and a wreath of cherry blossoms around the coin's rim.

[WillieBoyd2]

I ordered this pair from a California branch of a Japanese bank in 1964:


Japan silver 1000 Yen 1964 (Showa 39) Tokyo Olympics
Silver, 35 mm, 19.87 gm


Japan silver 100 Yen 1964 (Showa 39) Tokyo Olympics
Silver, 22 mm, 4.8 gm