Summary of Gunma Prefecture

Capital City: Maebashi
Population in 2010 (thousands): 2,008
Area (square km): 6,362

Gunma Coin

1000 yen silver coin

(Obverse design: Tomioka Silk Mill and Female Worker)

Tomioka Silk Mill: Tomioka Silk Mill was established in 1872 by the Japanese government, with an aim to realize the mass-production of the silk, as well as to improve the quality of this principal export item of Japan at that time. It was equipped with the Western silk-reeling technology, and became a model for other silk mills founded in various regions after that. It had been working also on the breed improvement of silkworms, and played a central role in developing the silk industry in Japan. The original main buildings, such as East Cocoon Warehouse, are still well preserved, though it finished the operation in 1987. It was designated as a National Historic Site in 2007, and as a National Important Cultural Property in 2008.

Female Worker: It is said that more than 400 women workers recruited from all over Japan had learned the techniques of machine-reeling here and became leaders of silk industries in their home towns with great contributions.

500 yen bi–color clad coin

(Obverse design: Keystone of the East Cocoon Warehouse and a Female Worker of Tomioka Silk Mill)

Keystone of the East Cocoon Warehouse: It is a keystone placed in the center of the arch of the East Cocoon Warehouse in the Tomioka Silk Mill. The start-year of the production, Meiji 8 (1872), is engraved on it. It is now known familiarly as a symbol of the silk mill.

Coin Sets contain Gunma Coin

1000 yen silver proof coin, "simple version"

1000 yen silver proof with five 80 yen stamps, "deluxe version"

500 yen Bicolor Clad Coin, "Proof Version"

500 yen Bicolor Clad Coin, "Brilliant Uncirculated Version"

500 yen Bicolor Clad Coin with five 80 yen stamps, "Brilliant Uncirculated Version"

500 yen Bicolor Clad Coin 7 Prefectures (Miyagi, Hiroshima, Gunma, Okayama, Shizuoka, Yamanashi and Kagoshima) Set, "Brilliant Uncirculated Version"

Dealers working on this program