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The 2022 Momotaro Ukiyoe Silver Coin is the third release in Scottsdale Mint's popular Legends of Japan series. Struck from 1 troy ounce of .9999 fine silver and issued as legal tender of Samoa with a face value of 5 Tala, this Proof-like Brilliant Uncirculated coin celebrates one of Japan's most beloved folk heroes through the visual tradition of Ukiyo-e art.
With a worldwide mintage of 50,000 coins, demand remains especially strong among Japanese collectors. What makes this release particularly noteworthy for international buyers is its limited availability outside Japan. Approximately 12,500 coins—about 25% of the total mintage—were allocated to collectors beyond the Japanese market.
Each coin arrives in a protective high-quality capsule and, thanks to its .9999 fine silver purity, qualifies for inclusion in self-directed precious metals IRAs.
Obverse – Coat of Arms of Samoa
The obverse displays the official Coat of Arms of Samoa, confirming the coin's status as legal tender of the Independent State of Samoa.Surrounding inscriptions include the year of issue, weight, purity, and denomination, including 2022, .9999 FINE SILVER, and 5 TALA. While the reverse celebrates Japanese culture and folklore, the Samoan obverse provides the sovereign backing that allows the coin to be issued as legal tender.
Reverse – The Birth of Momotaro
The reverse depicts one of the most important moments in Japanese folklore—the birth of Momotaro. According to the legend, an elderly couple discovered a giant peach floating down a river.When they brought it home and opened it, they found a young boy inside. That child would later become the legendary hero known as Momotaro, or "Peach Boy."
The design captures this remarkable scene as the peach opens to reveal the child, while the astonished elderly couple looks on.The artwork is rendered in the traditional Ukiyo-e style, characterized by bold outlines, flat color fields, and carefully balanced compositions inspired by classical Japanese woodblock prints.Unlike other releases in the series, this coin focuses on the beginning of the story rather than the famous battle against the Oni. It represents the moment from which the entire legend unfolds.
Momotaro is among the most widely recognized figures in Japanese folklore. His name translates directly to "Peach Boy," combining the Japanese words "momo" (peach) and "tarō," a traditional male given name. For generations, the story has been passed down through books, songs, theater, animation, and classroom lessons, making it one of Japan's most enduring cultural narratives. According to the legend, an elderly, childless couple discovered a giant peach drifting down a river. Inside the peach was a healthy baby boy, whom they raised as their own son. As Momotaro grew older, he learned of the suffering caused by the Oni, powerful ogres who raided nearby villages from their stronghold on Onigashima, the Island of the Ogre. Determined to restore peace, Momotaro set out on a journey to confront them. Along the way, he shared kibidango—traditional millet dumplings—with a dog, monkey, and pheasant, who joined his quest. Together they traveled to Onigashima, defeated the Oni, and recovered the treasures stolen from the villagers.One of the most enduring aspects of the story is its ending. Rather than killing the defeated Oni leader, Momotaro breaks one of his horns and accepts his surrender.
The tale emphasizes justice, courage, and restoring peace rather than revenge, helping explain its lasting popularity throughout Japan.
Ukiyo-e, meaning "pictures of the floating world," was a style of Japanese woodblock printing and painting that flourished during the Edo period between the 17th and 19th centuries.The art form became famous for its depictions of landscapes, kabuki actors, everyday life, historical events, and traditional folklore.The style's defining features include bold contour lines, flattened perspective, strong use of negative space, and carefully balanced compositions. These qualities make Ukiyo-e instantly recognizable and continue to influence artists around the world today. Among the most celebrated Ukiyo-e masters are Katsushika Hokusai, creator of The Great Wave off Kanagawa, and Utagawa Hiroshige, known for his landscape and travel series. Their work helped inspire the Japonisme movement that influenced European artists such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
By presenting Momotaro through the Ukiyo-e style, this coin connects the folktale with the same artistic tradition through which many Japanese stories were historically illustrated and shared.
The Legends of Japan collection consists of four annual releases issued from 2020 through 2023. Rather than telling the story in chronological order, the series takes a unique approach by presenting different moments from the legend across multiple years.The four releases include:
Each design is available in both Ukiyo-e and Anime versions, offering collectors two distinct artistic interpretations of the same scenes.While the specifications remain similar, the visual presentation differs significantly between the two styles.The series also benefits from a unique distribution structure.Roughly 75% of each year's mintage is sold through Japanese dealers, leaving only about 25% available internationally.For collectors outside Japan, this creates a meaningful supply limitation compared to many modern bullion collectibles.
The 2022 Momotaro Ukiyoe Silver Coin is the third release in Scottsdale Mint's popular Legends of Japan series. Struck from 1 troy ounce of .9999 fine silver and issued as legal tender of Samoa with a face value of 5 Tala, this Proof-like Brilliant Uncirculated coin celebrates one of Japan's most beloved folk heroes through the visual tradition of Ukiyo-e art.
With a worldwide mintage of 50,000 coins, demand remains especially strong among Japanese collectors. What makes this release particularly noteworthy for international buyers is its limited availability outside Japan. Approximately 12,500 coins—about 25% of the total mintage—were allocated to collectors beyond the Japanese market.
Each coin arrives in a protective high-quality capsule and, thanks to its .9999 fine silver purity, qualifies for inclusion in self-directed precious metals IRAs.
Obverse – Coat of Arms of Samoa
The obverse displays the official Coat of Arms of Samoa, confirming the coin's status as legal tender of the Independent State of Samoa.Surrounding inscriptions include the year of issue, weight, purity, and denomination, including 2022, .9999 FINE SILVER, and 5 TALA. While the reverse celebrates Japanese culture and folklore, the Samoan obverse provides the sovereign backing that allows the coin to be issued as legal tender.
Reverse – The Birth of Momotaro
The reverse depicts one of the most important moments in Japanese folklore—the birth of Momotaro. According to the legend, an elderly couple discovered a giant peach floating down a river.When they brought it home and opened it, they found a young boy inside. That child would later become the legendary hero known as Momotaro, or "Peach Boy."
The design captures this remarkable scene as the peach opens to reveal the child, while the astonished elderly couple looks on.The artwork is rendered in the traditional Ukiyo-e style, characterized by bold outlines, flat color fields, and carefully balanced compositions inspired by classical Japanese woodblock prints.Unlike other releases in the series, this coin focuses on the beginning of the story rather than the famous battle against the Oni. It represents the moment from which the entire legend unfolds.
Momotaro is among the most widely recognized figures in Japanese folklore. His name translates directly to "Peach Boy," combining the Japanese words "momo" (peach) and "tarō," a traditional male given name. For generations, the story has been passed down through books, songs, theater, animation, and classroom lessons, making it one of Japan's most enduring cultural narratives. According to the legend, an elderly, childless couple discovered a giant peach drifting down a river. Inside the peach was a healthy baby boy, whom they raised as their own son. As Momotaro grew older, he learned of the suffering caused by the Oni, powerful ogres who raided nearby villages from their stronghold on Onigashima, the Island of the Ogre. Determined to restore peace, Momotaro set out on a journey to confront them. Along the way, he shared kibidango—traditional millet dumplings—with a dog, monkey, and pheasant, who joined his quest. Together they traveled to Onigashima, defeated the Oni, and recovered the treasures stolen from the villagers.One of the most enduring aspects of the story is its ending. Rather than killing the defeated Oni leader, Momotaro breaks one of his horns and accepts his surrender.
The tale emphasizes justice, courage, and restoring peace rather than revenge, helping explain its lasting popularity throughout Japan.
Ukiyo-e, meaning "pictures of the floating world," was a style of Japanese woodblock printing and painting that flourished during the Edo period between the 17th and 19th centuries.The art form became famous for its depictions of landscapes, kabuki actors, everyday life, historical events, and traditional folklore.The style's defining features include bold contour lines, flattened perspective, strong use of negative space, and carefully balanced compositions. These qualities make Ukiyo-e instantly recognizable and continue to influence artists around the world today. Among the most celebrated Ukiyo-e masters are Katsushika Hokusai, creator of The Great Wave off Kanagawa, and Utagawa Hiroshige, known for his landscape and travel series. Their work helped inspire the Japonisme movement that influenced European artists such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
By presenting Momotaro through the Ukiyo-e style, this coin connects the folktale with the same artistic tradition through which many Japanese stories were historically illustrated and shared.
The Legends of Japan collection consists of four annual releases issued from 2020 through 2023. Rather than telling the story in chronological order, the series takes a unique approach by presenting different moments from the legend across multiple years.The four releases include:
Each design is available in both Ukiyo-e and Anime versions, offering collectors two distinct artistic interpretations of the same scenes.While the specifications remain similar, the visual presentation differs significantly between the two styles.The series also benefits from a unique distribution structure.Roughly 75% of each year's mintage is sold through Japanese dealers, leaving only about 25% available internationally.For collectors outside Japan, this creates a meaningful supply limitation compared to many modern bullion collectibles.
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