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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;The Eidolon, post: 4364512, member: 102103&quot;]Part 4:&nbsp; 500 yen</p><p>Image:&nbsp; Hesei 12 (2000), first year of current type[ATTACH=full]1103211[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]1103212[/ATTACH]</p><p>The 500 yen were only introduced fairly recently, in Showa 57 (1982).&nbsp; It was meant to replace the 500 yen note, which was phased out by 1994.&nbsp; The original version was a silvery copper-nickel alloy.&nbsp; In 2000 (Heisei 12) a nickel-brass version was made, with a yellower color.&nbsp; This coin is from the first year of the new type, and has several anti-counterfeiting measures.&nbsp; The zeros on the reverse are now filled with fine lines which can show a vertical bar from one angle and &quot;500円&quot; printed sideways from a different angle.&nbsp; It also has microprinting scattered about the face, and the reeding on the edges is at a slight diagonal.&nbsp; Rumor is that North Korea was a big producer of fake 500 yen coins, but I have no direct knowledge.[ATTACH=full]1103213[/ATTACH] Above:&nbsp; Same coin, illuminated at a steep angle to show the hidden writing &quot;500円&quot; going from top to bottom in the lines of each zero.</p><p><br /></p><p>500 don&#039;t have much historical interest yet, being of recent issue.&nbsp; I believe this type is scheduled to be replaced next year with a new, bimetallic design.&nbsp; This one I found in a 25 cent bin, which made me inordinately happy as it&#039;s worth almost five dollars face.&nbsp; Not much to do but spent it, though.</p><p><br /></p><p>Japan has also issued a ridiculous number of commemorative 500 yen coins.&nbsp; Unlike the 1964 Olympic commemorative 100 yen, I don&#039;t believe they were really meant for circulation.&nbsp; I don&#039;t know how much of a premium they sold for at the time.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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