At the XII Asian Games of 1994 in Hiroshima five former Soviet republics competed for the first time — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Japan marked the Games, held from 2 to 16 October, with three commemorative 500 yen coins, and this one shows a long jumper.

The jumper is caught in flight, concise and dynamic, with «日本国» above and the value «五百円» below. The reverse carries the Games emblem among six maple leaves, the legend «THE 12th ASIAN GAMES HIROSHIMA 1994» and the date «平成6年», the sixth year of the Heisei era.

Hiroshima was the first non-capital city to host the Asian Games. More than six thousand athletes from 42 countries and territories competed for medals in 34 sports.

The jumper coin was issued in 9,900,000 circulation pieces, plus 100,000 in proof quality. For collectors from the post-Soviet countries it also recalls Central Asia’s first appearance at the Asian Games; in the series it completes the trio after running and swimming.

AU-UNC grade: there is practically no wear, only possible light rubbing on the highest points of the relief, with the mint lustre almost fully preserved.

If this coin has caught your interest, the VPcoins catalogue has other issues from the same issuer worth seeing.