Japan, which is slated to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, announced it will mint two 1,000-yen (about $12.50 Cdn.) silver coins to commemorate the passing of the torch from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which hosted this year’s Games, to Tokyo.
The obverse of both coins—produced by Japan Mint—will depict cherry blossoms and ipe amarelo, which are recognized as symbols of both Japan and Brazil, while the reverse will depict the emblem of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The silver coins, which are expected to ship before the end of this year, will be the first Japanese coins with colour printing on both sides, according to the country’s ministry of finance. They each weigh 31.1 grams, measure 40 mm in diameter, and have a mintage of 50,000 pieces.
Japan previously issued commemorative coins to mark the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics; the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics; and the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics.