Owner Comments:
SERIES/TITLE: KOREAN NATIONAL PARKS – SONGNISAN
FACE VALUE: 30,000 WON
METAL: Ag .999
WEIGHT IN FINENESS (g): 14.0
DIAMETER (mm): 32.0
ALIGNMENT: MEDAL
STRIKE: PROOF
EDGE: REEDED
DECORATIVE ELEMENT: PAD PRINTING (COLORIZED)
MINTAGE: 10,000
YEAR/DATE OF ISSUE: NOVEMBER 14, 2019
DESINERS: N/A
ENGRAVERS: N/A
FROM THE BANK OF KOREA: On November 14, 2019, Bank of Korea issued three 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.
OBVERSE: Center, a panoramic depiction of the Park with Munjangdae Peak (1,054m) and its unusually shaped granite stones in the background, surrounded by a dense forest. In the foreground the panoramic scene is cut away to depict the shape of Jeongipum Pine Tree in the proof field. At the top running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed 한국의 국립공원 / 속리산 (Korean National Parks / Songnisan). At the bottom of the coin running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed 2019/ 한국은행 / 삼만원 (Year of issue / Bank of Korea / 30,000 Won).
REVERSE: Center, is depicted the Flying Squirrel (Pteromys Volans), in midflight between trees. At 11 o’clock, inset in a circle is depicted the Korean Berchemia (Berchemia berchemiaefolia). These are considered the two flagship species (Flora and Fauna) of Songnisan National Park. At the top of the rim running in a semicircle is inscribed ‘Korean National Parks / Songnisan’, at the bottom of the reverse running in a semicircle around the rim is inscribed ‘2019 / THE BANK OF KOREA / 30000 WON’ (year of issue / issuing party / denomination).
NOTES: The mintages were again split between single coin offerings and sets, 2,000 of each coin available individually and 8,000 of each coin placed into sets, distributed by KOMSCO.
Songnisan was designated as a National Park on March 24, 1970 and is one of 17 Mountainous parks in Korea. The origin of Songnisan goes back to the fifth year of Queen Seondeok of Silla(AD784) when a monk named Jinpyoyulsa arrived at Beopjusa(Temple). As the monk passed by the oxen working in the filed knelt down and bowed their heads before him. The farmers watched this happen and said, "even our cattle repent of their sins". So many of the farmers put down their tools and followed the monk into the mountain to practice Buddhism as they realized that their sins were much worse. This is how "Songnisan [Mountain to leave the world]" got its name.
Jeongipum Pine Tree was so named when King Sejo of the Joseon Dynasty conferred on it the rank of Jeongipum (cabinet minister level). It is estimated to be about 600 years old and is Korean Natural Monument No 103.