R179

Beautiful coin with good detail.

The Hō-ō-dō or Phoenix Hall is the main temple of the Byodoin monastery. It is located in Uji which is south of Kyoto. Uji is famous for its green tea, rich history and association with Japan’s first novel, the Tales of Genji.

Phoenix Hall was originally a country palace for the Fujiwara clan. It was converted to a temple by Yorimichi Fujiwara to enshrine the Buddha Amida. Everything inside the Byodoin is the finest among the mid-Heian era's architecture and art, and graceful as a Zuicho (bird of luck).

Originally the building was in the style of shinden-zukuri. Shinden-zukuri was the architectural style of Japanese nobility’s residences. Its main apartment called shinden or bed chamber faced south to bring in sunlight and opened on the pond of a beautiful garden. Shinden-zukuri is landscape architecture. It aims to bring landscape “into” the living area.

Japan Mint (独立行政法人造幣局 / Dokuritsu Gyōsei Hōjin Zōheikyoku), Japan

OBVERSE; Phoenix Hall (Hōō-dō, Byōdō-in Temple) in center with Country name on top and value below

Lettering:

日 本 国

十 円

Translation:

State of Japan

10 yen

REVERSE; Value and date within wreath

MATERIAL ; Bronze (95% Copper, 3-4% Zinc, 1-2% Tin

DIAMETER; 23.5mm

WEIGHT ; 4.5 Grams

About the size of a 10p coin

PLEASE LOOK AT THE SCAN CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING.

IF YOU ARE BUYING MORE THAN ONE ITEM PLEASE ADD TO BASKET.