Owner Comments:
SERIES/TITLE: KOREAN NATIONAL PARKS – JIRISAN (50TH ANNIVERSARY)
FACE VALUE: 30,000
METAL: Ag .999
WEIGHT IN FINENESS (g): 14
DIAMETER (mm): 32
ALIGNMENT: MEDAL
STRIKE: PROOF
EDGE: REEDED
DECORATIVE ELEMENT: PAD PRINTING (COLORIZED)
MINTAGE: 20,000
YEAR/DATE OF ISSUE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
DESIGNERS: N/A
ENGRAVERS: N/A
FROM THE BANK OF KOREA: On September 28, 2017, the Bank of Korea issued two new ‘Korean National Parks Commemorative Coins’, in an effort to make the beauty of our natural environment and the future value of ecological preservation more widely known. The motifs of the respective coin designs are ‘Jirisan’ and ‘Bukhansan’ among the national parks in Korea.
OBVERSE: Center, a panoramic view of Jirisan National Park the peaks caped with midwinter snow and defoliated trees in the foreground. In the background is Cheonwangbong peak (1915m) with the rest of the Baekdudaegan Mountains fading into the horizon. At the top running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed 한국의 국립공원 / 지리산 (Korean National Parks / Jirisan). At the bottom of the coin running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed 2017/ 한국은행 / 삼만원 (Year of issue / Bank of Korea / 30,000 Won).
REVERSE: Center, is depicted the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) walking all fours. At 3 o’clock inset in a circle is depicted Korean Winter Hazel (Corylopsis glabrescens). These are considered the two flagship species (Flora and Fauna) of Jirisan National Park. At the top of the rim running in a semicircle is inscribed ‘Korean National Parks / Jirisan’, at the bottom of the reverse running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed ‘2017 / THE BANK OF KOREA / 30000 WON’ (year of issue / issuing party / denomination).
NOTES: This coin marks yet another reduction in the planchet size and weight, going from 33mm x 15.55g to 32mm x 14g. This set was released both as individual coins (5,000 each) and as a set (5,000 sets), 90% of the mintages were held for domestic sale with the other 10% being made available for overseas sales with KOMSCO made the sole distributor.
2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the designation of Jirisan as the first national park in Korea, in 1967. Giving the Jirisan coin double designation as both being in the National Parks Coin series and as a 50th Anniversary Commemorative coin.
This is the first year of the Korean National Parks Commemorative Coin Series. The Series is to cover the 22 National Parks of the Republic of Korea and is scheduled to take seven years to complete.