Many of you already know that this was the year that a new Emperor took the throne in Japan. Emperor Akihito stepped down due to age and his son Naruhito became Emperor. Those of us who get excited about Japanese coins know that this means that Japanese coins will show a new era date, since traditional Japanese dates go by the reign of the current Emperor. Akihito went by "平成" or "Heisei" and his son took on the era name "令和" or "Reiwa." So, just like in 1989 after Emperor Hirohito died, the first round of coins contained the previous Emperor's era name and the second contained the new Emperor's era name. So in 2019 the first round of coins displayed the date "平成31年" or "平成三十一年" meaning "the 31st year of Heisei." The new Emperor's first year doesn't show a numeral date, but instead includes a character that means "beginning" or "元". So the second batch of coins for 2019 includes the date "令和元年" or "Reiwa Gannen." So I really wanted to have some of these on hand. After watching the Japan Mint store site for months and seeing nothing, I finally relented and bought a 2019 Reiwa Mint Set from Ebay. I didn't pay too much, but I paid more than I would have paid on the Japan Mint website. So it goes. As I said on another thread, it appears that the outgoing Emperor's coins have historically had drastically lower mintages than the incoming Emperor's coins, so the "Heisei 31" is probably the one to have, but I haven't seen mintage figures yet. Here are some pictures of the Reiwa coins that were waiting for me at the post office today, complete with some closeups of my favorite part, the new era name.
I must confess to ordering one off eBay this week. I'm not really a mint set type of person, but oh well. Couldn't help myself.
I sure would like to buy this someday. Glad to know I’m not the only one who’s interested in the new stuff.
I have learned from a Japanese dealer that the "Reiwa" issues are only being distributed in Japan to "approved" dealers. Several friends in Japan have also tried to buy the sets from the Mint without much luck. I recall watching on NHK (Japanese TV) that the Heisei 31 coins were being eagerly purchased outside of the Mint and certain banks. I believe they are all in local hands. I will keep asking my Japanese friends for further updates. Perhaps @gxseries who lives in Yokohama can provide better color.
Wait, @gxseries lives in Yokohama??!!! I need backstory. I need to send him money so he can send me the grape Calpis flavored chu-hai...lots of money. My kids (now in high school and college) still want CC Lemon. Sigh. I'd love to go back again when my life is not consumed with work. Shoot, I still need to see that money museum in Tokyo I missed. I just ordered the 2020 JNDA from my regular 'supplier' on eBay (Arrowtokyo--it's probably the 7th or 8th one I've gotten from him) so maybe the mintages will be in there.
Erm no, a bit of wishful thinking. As much as Japan is awesome to visit, living and working there is another story.
I received the 2020 JNDA about a week ago and, though it lists both of the coins, my copy did not include mintages for any of the 2019 coins, unfortunately. Just blank spaces. They may not know the figures when the books are printed, but maybe newer versions come out with updates?
I just realized that I also ordered the JNDA from ArrowTokyo - I'll have to keep that seller in mind for future reference, I've bought 4 - 5 JNDAs from various dealers over the years.
I live in Yokohama. Have been working here for 13 years. I managed to get a Reiwa mint set yesterday at a small shop in Nakano (Tokyo) for 3500yen, which I thought was not too bad. And Heisei 2019 mint set a couple of months back for 3000
Is this the Nozaki shop? I tried to find it during my last visit. It isn't in Nakano City on the Chuo line.
Yes, it's Nozaki. Nakano is on the JR Chuo Line, 3 or 4 stop west of Shinjuku station. Out of the north exit of Nakano Station, go straight up the middle of the Nakano shopping arcade, and to the end into Nakano Broadway. About 20m in, go up the stairs to the right (not the escalator) and up one flight of stairs, then right, and right again. Nozaki is about 30m on the right.
Thank you. I have written down your directions. The next time I visit Tokyo I will go out there. I live near NYC and retired. So I don't go as often as I used. For me, I have always enjoyed Japan but the language is a challenge!
はい、日本語はとても難しいですね。 I don't even know how long it took me to get to that level. It's the most difficult language I've ever taken on.
I also picked up a 1991 proof set yesterday, in Wasendo coin shop, Asakusa... In the original display packaging. And along with a Meiji year 20 (1887) 1 yen silver coin, a date missing from my collection.
@ewomack: Keep at it! Yes, it is a very difficult language. But we like challenges - don't we? Now that I am retired I try to go back every other year to visit friends and cycle the countryside ("inaka"). So much better than being in the business world... @Dnas: You are really coming up with those hidden coin shop gems! I know Asakusa but did not know Wasendo. Now I have another excuse to go shopping in the area as I am a big fan of Kappabashi, the kitchen utensil street. When coin shopping in Tokyo, I usually visit Taisei (who has moved to Higashi Ikebukuro) and Ginza Coins. I will likely see about 6-7 Japanese dealers at the New York International Numismatic Show in mid-January. Lovely weather here, then! They do not set up tables, rather looking for that odd European gold piece at the auctions and passing out their "meishi" to other dealers. I don't know if you have ever run into Chris Baker of Atlas Coins here in Brooklyn, NY. He used to live in Shizuoka. He is quite good at finding the right Japanese coin. His Japanese is quite fluent.
Oh, the 1991 proof set was only 2000yen, perfect condition, so that was a bargain. Wasendo is located in a back arcade in Asakusa. If you walk up Nakamise, pass between Sensoji temple and the big pagoda, and off to the left, there's a covered shopping arcade... Wasendo is about 3 shops from the end, on the left. It's only a small shop, but you can find some great deals in there.
The area around Asakusa ("shitamachi") has so many little shops to explore. Thank you for posting the location of this one.
@Williammm: Am not sure of your location. If in Japan it looks to be about JPY 3000 - JPY 3500 (USD 27.75 to USD 32.40 @ USD = JPY 108) according to an earlier contributor who lives in Japan. On E-Bay, gunatayodh out of Iwata in Shizuoka Pref/ is selling the Reiwa set for $38.50 with $7.00 shipping and handling. I have not seen any others. My suggestion is to work with a well known coin dealer. Hope this info helps.