Owner Comments:
SERIES/TITLE: KOREAN CULTURAL HERITAGE - BAEKJE
FACE VALUE: 30,000 WON
METAL: Ag .999
WEIGHT IN FINENESS (g): 15.55
TOTAL WEIGHT (g): 15.55
DIAMETER (mm): 33.0
ALIGNMENT: MEDAL
STRIKE: PROOF
EDGE: REEDED
DECORATIVE ELEMENT: N/A
MINTAGE: 15,700
YEAR/DATE OF ISSUE: DECEMBER 7, 2015
DESINERS: N/A
ENGRAVERS: N/A
FROM THE BANK OF KOREA: The Bank of Korea issued a series of ‘Korean Cultural Heritage’ commemorative coins in two types on December 7, 2015, as it had done in 2013 and 2014, in order to make Korea’s outstanding cultural heritage more widely known and boost Koreans’ own love and affection for it. The motifs of the designs are ‘Gyeongju Historic Areas’ and ‘Baekje Historic Areas’, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
OBVERSE: Foreground-Left, the top section of the Great Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje, in the background on the lower half of the coin is a panoramic view of Gongsanseong Fortress running the entire width of the obverse (left to right). At the top, running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed 한국의 문화유산 / 백제역사유적지구 기념주화 (Korean Cultural Heritage / Baekje Historic Areas), at the bottom running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed 2015 / 한국은행 / 삼만원(2010 / Bank Of Korea / 30,000 Won).
REVERSE: Right, is a depiction of the Stone Pagoda at the Mireuksa Temple Site, Iksan. Left, artifacts excavated from the Stone Pagoda such as the Gold Reliquaries and glass beads. Inscribed in a semicircle around rim, running approximately from 9 to 12 o’clock are the words ‘Korean Cultural Heritage / Baekje Historic Areas’. At the bottom running in a semicircle is inscribed 2015 / THE BANK OF KOREA / 30000 WON (Year of issue / Issuing Authority / Denomination)
NOTES: This signals a significant drop off in the mintage numbers for the 30,000 Won coins. Starting with this set all mintages have remained under the 20,000 mark, but never dipping below 10,000. This year also marks the third reduction in the planchet size/weight, the diameters have been shrinking since the first planchet which was 35mm to the current 33mm size, the weights have also been steadily diminishing, from 23 to 19 and now to 15.5 grams. The planchet weight will continue to reduce along with the diameter in later years.