A New 1,000-yen coin depicting Japanese red-crowned cranes flying in front of Hokkaido’s Lake Toya is to be produced ahead of the next G-8 summit, which will be held in Hokkaido.

The silver coin is the first in an 8-year series of 94 coins commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Local Autonomy Law. The coin is due to go on sale in time for the G-8 summit to be held at Hokkaido’s Lake Toya in July, and will be given to the leaders of each country there.

The 4-centimeter coin depicts two Japanese red-crowned cranes — an endangered species, whose population is slowly recovering due to conservation efforts — flying over Lake Toya.

A total of 100,000 coins will be issued, with buyers to be picked at random. Each coin will cost 6,000 yen.

Commemorative 500-yen coins will also be issued across the nation this year, going into full circulation by fiscal 2016.

Specifications:

Composition - Sterling Silver - Weight - 31.1 g - Diameter - 40 mm - Mintage - 100,000
Official Issue Date - July 1, 2008