JNDA# 07-18
| Material | Silver |
| Composition | Pure Silver |
| Weight | 31.1grams=1.09oz |
| Diameter | 40mm=1.57in |
| Year of Production | 2011(Heisei 23 year) |
| 2012(Heisei 24 year) The 2012 Iwate Prefecture coin is rare due to its limited mintage. |
These silver coins were issued to commemorate the enforcement of Japan’s Local Autonomy Law.
Each of the 47 prefectures has its own unique design.
The coins of Iwate Prefecture feature designs of the National Treasure Konjikido Golden Hall and Chusonji Temple lotus, along with the Pure Land Garden of Mōtsūji Temple.
Konjikido Golden Hall: The first pillar was raised in 1124 by Kiyohira, founder of the Ōshū Fujiwara clan.
The Amida Hall is covered entirely in gold leaf, both inside and out. The remains of the first four generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, from Kiyohira to Yasuhira, are enshrined within the hall. The hall was designated a National Treasure in 1951, and the entire Chusonji temple grounds were designated a National Special Historic Site in 1979.
Chūson-ji Temple Lotus: Seeds discovered in 1950 during an investigation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan’s remains at the Konjikidō Hall. These seeds, found in a barrel containing the severed head of the fourth generation, Taira no Yasuhira, were approximately 800 years old. They were successfully cultivated and bloomed in 1998.
Mōtsū-ji Pure Land Garden: Although Mōtsū-ji Temple was originally built as a grand temple complex by the second and third generations of the Ōshū Fujiwara clan, Motohira and Hidehira, respectively, many buildings were lost to subsequent disasters.
Today, the Pure Land garden centered around the Ōizumi Pond and the temple ruins are preserved and designated as a National Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
This coin was specially issued in two years: 2011 and 2012.
The 2011 coin had a mintage of 100,000 pieces, while the 2012 coin was produced in a limited run of only 10,000 pieces.
Furthermore, this coin won the “Most Beautiful Coin” award in the commemorative coin category (excluding gold coins) at the MDC Coin Competition held during the 27th Vienna General Meeting of the World Mint Directors Conference (May 2012).
The 2012-dated coins represent an additional 10,000 pieces produced to commemorate this award.
