Weekly World Mint Coinage: April 23, 2026

Japan – Mint of Japan

New Silver Proof and Color National Parks Commemorative Coins Launched

The Japanese Finance Ministry has launched the latest silver coins highlighting the country’s national parks. First released in 2024 to mark the centenary anniversary of the establishment of Japan’s National Parks Service, the numismatic collector series will comprise 34 coins representing all national parks when complete. There have been 11 coins issued in the series to date.

The coins are produced by the Mint of Japan at their facilities in Osaka. The obverse side of each coin includes a full color design representing the featured national park with the text in Japanese 日 本 国 (Nippon Koku) and the name of the park in both Japanese and English along the lower rim. The denomination 千 円 (1000 yen) is shown as part of the overall design. The reverse side is shared with each coin in the series and features the red and blue logo of the National Parks of Japan centered. This mark depicts the sun rising over the horizon. The color shades express a hazy landscape and sunrise that is typical of Japan and concisely represents the national park as a free and open space that contains rich diversity. The text National Parks of Japan is placed above the logo in English. Along the upper rim is the commemorative text 国 立 公 園 制 度 100 年 (100 years of the national park system). Along the lower rim is the denomination 1000 YEN and 令和 8 年 (Reiwa year 8) reflecting the 8th year of reign of Emperor Naruhito which commenced in 2019.

Coin 12 - Yoshino-Kumano National Park. This park is located in the Kansai region of Japan comprising several non-contiguous areas of Mie, Nara, and Wakayama Prefectures. The area is known for its crystal clear warm waters and coral formations as well as valleys, beaches and mountain climbing activities for visitors. Within the park is the Nachi Falls, Japan's tallest free fall waterfall measuring133 metres or, 440 feet. The Odaigahara salamander which is endemic to Japan and whose natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and freshwater springs is found in several habitats within Yoshino-Kumano. The design features a colour image of Nachi Falls, the Odaigahara salamander, and white mountain cherry blossoms. The text in English and Japanese Yoshino-Kumano National Park / 吉 野 熊 野 国 立 公 園 is placed below the illustration.

Coin 13 – Daisen-Oki National Park. Rich in nature, history, culture and which is home to Mount Daisen, considered the nation's oldest sacred mountain. The park was established in 1936 in the Chūgoku region of Honshū and as Daisen National Park but was expanded and renamed in 1961 to include the Oki Islands and prefectures of Okayama, Shimane, and Tottori. Although Mount Daisen is the focus of the park, the location also includes the volcanic mountains and plains of Hiruzen, Mount Kenashi, Mount Sanbe, and Mount Hōbutsu. The design features a sprig of red oyama magnolia flowers with a background of Mount Daisen. The text in English and Japanese Daisen-Oki National Park / 大 山隠 岐 国 立 公 園 is placed below the illustration.

Each silver proof and color coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity in Japanese and English text. Japan’s Ministry of Finance plans to issue between five and six National Parks coins over the next six years with the series concluding in 2031 which coincides with the centenary anniversary of the establishment of the National Parks Act. Each coin in the series is available as a separate coin purchase. For additional information, please visit the webshop of the Mint of Japan.

Italy - IPZS

New Gold and Silver Proof Coins Celebrate America’s USA 250th Anniversary of Independence.

Collector coins marking the 250th anniversary of American independence are being seen in nations around the world, including Italy, which has a strong connection worth celebrating. Two of the Founding Fathers and original signers of the Declaration of Independence had some Italian ancestry in their families and played a critical role in America's struggle for independence. William Paca (1740 – 1999) was an important Revolutionary War general, early senator from Maryland and later governor. Caesar Rodney (1728 – 1784) was a lawyer and politician from Kent County, Delaware.

Noted and accomplished Italian Americans have profoundly and positively shaped the United States across many fields, including Amadeo Giannini - founder of Bank of America, Nobel physicist Enrico Fermi, and cultural icons like legendary singer Frank Sinatra and film producer Martin Scorsese. They have continued to drive industries, such as Lee Iacocca in automotive, Ray Dalio in finance, while contributing to infrastructure, arts, and public service. Antonin Scalia (1936–2016) was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Every year on the 12th October, Americans of all backgrounds celebrate the life of perhaps the most famous Italian - Christopher Columbus, the explorer credited with discovering the new world in 1492.

The commemorative coins programme is a collaborative effort between both Italian and American engravers / designers

€3 Silver. Designed by Marta Bonifacio, the obverse side includes a detailed depiction of the standing allegorical figure of Italia Turrita in flowing robes, she is seen standing proudly on the globe, holding a sceptre in her right hand and arm as well as a cornucopia in her left arm. Along the left and right rim is the inscription REPUBBLICA ITALIANA separated by a series of decorative dots and one star. The R mintmark denoting the Mint of Rome is seen in the right field. Just over the horizon of the globe to the lower right is the name of the designer M. BONIFACIO. The reverse side is the work of American engraver Jennie Norris, who features a half-length portrait of the allegorical female figure of the famed Statue of Liberty centred. The design is surrounded by 13 five-pointed stars representing the original 13 colonies and the text LIBERTY which are placed around the rim. Near the lower right field are the commemorative years 1776 and 2026. To the right of Liberty’s torch is the coin’s denomination 3 EURO and just near the lower left rim are the initials JN of the coins’ designer.

€50 Gold. Designed by Marta Bonifacio, the obverse side features a depiction profile of the Italian allegorical figure Italia Turrita. Her image is surrounded with the inscription REPUBBLICA ITALIANA and twenty dot-marked elements along the rim, representing Italy’s twenty regions and one five-pointed star near her crown. The R mintmark denoting the Mint of Rome is seen in the lower left field. Just under the image of Italia Turrita is the name of the designer M. BONIFACIO. The reverse side is designed by Emily Damstra who features a profile of Lady Liberty facing to the right. Surrounding the primary design are thirteen five-pointed stars representing the original thirteen colonies who declared their independence in July 1776. Along the lower rim is the denomination and commemorative years 1776 · 50 EURO · 2026. Just below the image of Lady Liberty, the stylised initials ESD denoting the designer Emily Damstra.

Each gold and silver proof coin is encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge card case with magnetic closure accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato.

Malta – Royal Dutch Mint

Latest Silver Proof Coins Highlight Unique International Maltese Celebration 

The Central Bank of Malta is offering collector coins in celebration of an exciting annual event.

Beginning in 2002, the Malta Tourism Authority organised a national fireworks festival, and later expanded it to international participants, renaming it the Malta International Fireworks Festival. These new silver proof and colour coins focus on the annual celebration of the prestigious Pyro-Musical competition, where fireworks are meticulously choreographed to music. This year, and in honour of the 25th anniversary, the festival will feature over 40 local and international fireworks teams, with the breath-taking Valletta Grand Harbour as the main stage offering one of the most iconic backdrops in Malta.

In much of Malta, pyrotechnics or, Il-logħob tan-nar as it’s known in the Maltese language are at the centre of most national festivities. These pyro spectacles have found their way into the heart of traditional feasts creating their own niche and showcasing this is the popular local saying Ma hemmx festa mingħajr nar, meaning, ‘there is no feast without fireworks’. The use of fireworks is not only a means of celebrating, but also of conveying a message or theme whilst highlighting the pyro-technician's skill and artistry.

For generations, the traditional craft of creating fireworks has been proudly passed on from one generation to another. The skill of making fireworks is entrenched in Maltese culture and which was first encouraged by the military division of The Knights of St John as early as the 16th century. In 2023, the International Fireworks Festival was recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In 2025, Malta became the first European nation to authorise the launch of fireworks from drones. It resulted in a spectacular synchronised display featuring 550 drones above the Grand Harbour which brought the Malta International Fireworks Festival to a close.

The proof and colour coins are produced by the Royal Dutch Mint at their facilities in Houten, Netherlands on behalf of the Central Bank of Malta. The obverse side, designed by Pannos Goutzemisis, features a vividly colourful composition depicting a festoon of fireworks display primarily of red and gold with the engraved backdrop of the Valetta Grand Harbour seen near the lower portion of the coin. Above the primary design along the rim is the commemorative text MALTA INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS FESTIVAL. Along the lower rim is the additional commemorative text 25TH ANNIVERSARY. The reverse of the coin features artisan engraver Noel Galea Bason’s familiar coat of arms of Malta centred along with the text MALTA and the year of issue 2026 shown on either side of the shield. The crest is partially surrounded with nine five-pointed stars with the coin’s denomination of 10 EURO placed below the primary design along the lower rim.

What is of particular interest about this specific coin release for collectors is that it was a collaborative project between Malta’s Central Bank, the Malta Coin Centre and Tourism Malta. As such these coins are not part of Malta’s official plan for coins issued during the year.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case branded with the Central Bank of Malta insignia and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the Malta Coin Centre’s e-webshop.