Japan Minting Memorial Coins For 50-Year Old Bullet Train

OSAKA, JAPAN - JAN. 30: Japan Mint on Friday January 30 started making 100-yen memorial coins to mark year's 50th anniversary of inauguration of Shinkansen bullet train. At a ceremony held at the Mint, based here in Osaka, a senior official of the Finance Ministry kicked off the coining line. The Mint plans to make five types of coins featuring train designs each carrying one of five different Shinkansen lines - incumbent Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku and Jyoetsu lines as well as Hokuriku to operate from next year. The Mint will officially issue 2.3 million coins for each design from this spring. A commemorative coin can be exchanged for a regular 100-yen coin.