SHIGA Prefecture The 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law 500 yen Bicolor Clad Coin (滋賀)

A 500 yen coin made to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law.

There are 47 types, the same as the number of prefectures in Japan.

It is made by combining two technologies: “Cladd,” in which another type of metal plate is inserted between two metal plates, and “Bicolor,” in which another metal is placed in a disk. “Baikara Clad

There are jagged edges on the sides, and only four places are shaped differently from the rest.

The reverse side is the same.

The design imitates the coins of the Edo period.

It is written in kanji as “local Autonomy” in four characters.

​The year and “JAPAN 47PREFECTURES COIN PROGRAM” are engraved.

The obverse has a different design for each prefecture.

The SHIGA type depicts “Biwako oonamazu” and “Nigorobuna”.

 In Shiga Prefecture, there is Lake Biwa(Biwako), the largest and oldest freshwater lake in Japan, covering an area of 670 square kilometers. Lake Biwa has existed for 4 million years and is one of the rare ancient lakes in the world.
 Additionally, due to the long history and the vast area, there are diverse spots with different water temperatures and depths, leading to many endemic species that are found only in Lake Biwa.
 On the left in the picture is the Biwakooonamazu(catfish,silurus biwaensis) ​, and on the right is the nigorobuna(crucian carp,Carassius auratus grandoculis Temminck and Schlegel) , both of which are endemic to Lake Biwa.

 In particular, Biwakooonamazu often exceeds 1 meter in length and is considered the lord of Lake Biwa.