Japan Mint began producing on Thursday 500-yen and 100-yen coins stamped with the year of issue "Reiwa one," as the country marked the start of the new imperial era on May 1 following the ascension of Emperor Naruhito to the throne. Five-hundred-yen coins, inscribed with Chinese characters reading "Reiwa Gannen" and their edges milled, were discharged from a machine capable of minting 750 coins per minute at a factory that was shown to media. "I'm delighted to be able to start the production of a currency with the new era stamped on it," Finance Minister Taro Aso said as he pressed the start button on the minting ... (full story)