Expo '70 Silver Medal 925/1000 - Japanese Coin - Designed by Churyō Satō - in Original Box

The official commemorative medal of the 1970 Osaka World Expo – made of sterling silver, minted by the Japan Mint, and designed by one of the country's most significant sculptors.

The medal features the inscription 日本万国博覧会 / JAPAN WORLD EXPOSITION, OSAKA, 1970 on one side, along with the exhibition's cherry blossom emblem, the mint mark (造幣局製), the 925 silver hallmark, and the text EXPO'70.

Publisher, Mint, Design

The medal was issued by the Japan Association for the 1970 World Exposition (財団法人 日本万国博覧会協会) and produced by the Japan Mint (大蔵省造幣局) – the government institution that also mints circulating currency. It was distributed through a specially established commemorative medal association.

The design was provided by Churyō Satō (佐藤忠良), one of the defining Japanese sculptors of the 20th century. The original packaging explains his concept: a budding tree represents eternal growth, and the medal likewise represents the spirit of prosperity and harmony for humanity.

A note on attribution, as it is frequently confused: The World Expo’s cherry blossom emblem was designed by Ōtaka Takeshi, not Okamoto Tarō—Okamoto designed the Tower of the Sun, the architectural landmark of the exhibition.

Design

The emblem is rendered in relief: five spherical segments, each with a crescent-shaped cutout, grouped around a small center point. The surface has a matte satin finish, causing the silver to reflect a soft, deep light rather than a mirror-like shine—a deliberate choice that emphasizes the three-dimensionality of the relief.

Circling the edge is the bilingual inscription in a slender sans-serif typeface, characteristic of the exhibition's overall graphic design identity.

With a diameter of 34 millimeters, a thickness of 2.3 millimeters, and a weight of 19 grams, the medal has exactly the heft expected of a solid silver striking—it feels heavier in the hand than its size suggests.

The medal is delivered in its original black collector’s box inscribed MEDAL EXPO'70 / SILVER MEDAL 925/1000, featuring a transparent lid insert and foam cushioning.

Dating

1970, for the World Expo in Osaka.

Condition

The medal is in very good collector's condition. The embossing is complete and sharp; the inscription, mint mark, and silver hallmark are clearly legible. There are a few isolated dark spots on the satin finish—typical early signs of silver oxidation, which could be professionally removed, but which we have intentionally left untreated.

The original box shows signs of storage: rubbed edges, slight indentations, and discoloration on the lid. The transparent insert and cushioning are complete.

The actual condition is shown unretouched in the product photos.

Technical Specifications

• Occasion: Osaka World Expo 1970 (Expo '70)
• Material: Sterling silver 925/1000
• Mint: Japan Mint
• Publisher: Japan Association for the 1970 World Exposition
• Design: Churyō Satō
• Diameter: approx. 34 mm
• Thickness: 2.3 mm
• Weight: 19 g (equivalent to approx. 17.6 g fine silver)
• Dating: 1970
• Origin: Japan
• Included: Medal, original collector's box

For whom?

For collectors of World Expo memorabilia and numismatists who collect government-issued commemorative medals. For lovers of postwar Japanese graphic design. And as an object that doesn't need a display case—it feels good in the hand.

Warranty (used goods)

This is a used item. The limitation period for claims for defects under the statutory warranty is 12 months from delivery.