Panda America is proud to be an official distributor of the Japan Mint for an exclusive program featuring Japan's numerous regions. This program focuses on the Japanese Prefectures. In Japan, the Prefectures are our version of States. Here in America we have 50 states. In Japan, they have 47 prefectures, which have a similar type of governing authority as our states. Legal Tender, 1000-Yen color silver proof coins for 47 prefectures will be issued from 2008 until 2016. Each coin is 1 oz. of 99.9% silver, and comes housed in an attractive and colorful holder with pictures and information of the prefecture.
The program begins with coins from Hokkaido, which is the LARGEST prefecture of Japan and is in the northernmost part of Japan. In fact, Hokkaido is actually an island off the main coast of Japan, as shown in the map above. The coins of the prefectures will feature designs and images that are specific to that prefecture. The Hokkaido coin features Lake Toya, a volcanic lake found in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Red-crowned cranes fly over the center of the legal tender coin. The coins are colorized and have a strict mintage limit of only 100,000 pieces per prefecture. These beautiful coins come directly from the Japan Mint, and are now available from official distributor Panda America. Japan 2008 Prefecture Hokkaido Silver Proof Coin. Obverse design features Lake Toya and Red-crowned cranes. The reverse design features snow crystals, moon and cherry blossoms. Color of the coin is white, black, blue-green, light-blue, red and green. Diameter is 40 mm. The edge of the coin features helical ridges.
