The 500 yen coin, equivalent to €4, is one of the world’s highest denomination coins used for daily transactions. Reviewing such circulating coin from its introduction in 1982 to the present day will be a good reference for many coin issuing authorities.

This presentation consists of the following topics:

Japan’s social and economic situation in the early 1980s when the 500 yen coin was introduced
Urgent release of the second and current version of the 500 yen coin in 2000 in order to cope with the widespread of illegal use of foreign coins
Security features which maintain the credibility of the 500 yen coin
Efforts by public and private sectors for not allowing the widespread of counterfeiting
Current state of the 500 yen coin in less cash society, and
Next version of the 500 yen coin to be introduced in 2021.