Coin of the Week: 2001 Korean 500 Won

Obverse (Image: Red-crowned Crane)

Reverse (Image: Denomination)

South Korea's currency is the won, a currency which has been in use for thousands of years. Today's Korean won was introduced in 1962, with 500 won coins entering circulation in 1982. 

Like all of South Korea's coins, the 500 won has the year of issue, denomination and bank title on the reverse. The obverse depicts the red-crowned crane. This crane is one of the rarest cranes in the world and is a symbol of good luck and longevity in many parts of Asia. The red-crowned crane has an estimated population of 1,500 remaining in the wild, with about 1/3 of them migrating to the Korean peninsula in the winter. Interestingly enough, the sanctuary that this crane depends on is in the Korean DMZ and Civilian Controlled Zone. The red-crowned crane is protected as a National Monument in South Korea.

If you're interested in more information about red-crowned cranes, visit the Smithsonian's National Zoo. For conservation efforts, visit the International Crane Foundation.