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 – crafted from 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 state-run mint that also produces circulation coinage. Distribution was handled by a specially formed 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 in the same way, the medal represents the spirit of prosperity and harmony for humanity.

A note on attribution, as it is frequently confused: The cherry blossom emblem of the World Expo was created 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 high 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 sheen—a deliberate choice that emphasizes the relief of the minting.

Circumferentially, there is a bilingual inscription in a narrow sans-serif typeface, characteristic of the exhibition’s overall graphic identity.

With a diameter of 34 millimeters, a thickness of 2.3 millimeters, and a weight of 19 grams, the medal has the heft one expects from a solid silver strike—it feels heavier in the hand than its size would suggest.

The medal is supplied in its original black collector’s box inscribed with 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 strike is complete and sharp; the inscription, mint mark, and silver hallmark are clearly legible. On the satin-finished surface, there are occasional dark spots—incipient tarnish typical for silver, which could be professionally removed, but which we have deliberately left untreated.

The original box shows signs of wear: rubbed edges, light pressure marks, and discoloration on the lid. The transparent insert and the foam bed are intact.

The actual condition is shown in the unretouched product photos.

Technical Specifications

• Occasion: Osaka World Expo 1970 (Expo '70)
• Material: Sterling silver 925/1000
• Mint: Japan Mint (Ministry of Finance)
• 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)
• Date: 1970
• Origin: Japan
• Scope of delivery: Medal, original collector’s box

For whom?

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

Warranty (pre-owned)

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