2025 France 1/4 oz Gold Proof UNESCO (Shuri Castle)

Coin Highlights:

• Contains .25 oz of .999 fine gold.
• Comes in a box with a certificate of authenticity from the Monnaie de Paris.
• Mintage of 1,000 coins.
• Obverse: Presents a woman wearing a traditional dress, a richly decorated kimono, typical of the traditional court clothing of the Kingdom of Ryükyü. The outfit is reminiscent of the clothes worn by the nobles or members of the royal family of the kingdom, of which Shuri was the political and cultural center. The specific headdress was used for important ceremonies, such as royal weddings or state events. In the background, a detailed view of the left-hand side of Shuri Castle and a schematic view of the right-hand side to illustrate its construction and reconstruction.
• Reverse: Common to all the coins in the UNESCO series for 2020. It depicts the globe with parallels and meridians on the left-hand side and inscriptions of major UNESCO World Heritage sites on the right-hand side. The inscriptions are engraved in stone, echoing the Rosetta Stone. The left-hand side of the globe is surrounded by the UNESCO logo and the words "World Heritage". The face value is inscribed on the left-hand side of the globe, blending in perfectly with the parallels and meridians.
• Certified by the Monnaie de Paris.

This gold coin would be a great addition to any collection or an ideal gift for a loved one. Add this 2025 1/4 oz Proof Gold UNESCO (Shuri Castle) coin to your cart today!

Shuri Castle, Gusuku Sites, and Associated Properties in the Ryükyü Kingdom
Located in Japan's Okinawa territory, Shuri Castle was built at the end of the 14th Century. The monument was originally a gusuku, a medieval Japanese fortress, but it later served as the royal residence of the Ryükyü kingdom (15th-19th centuries), then as a government and religious center. It is also associated with the birth of Shuri-te, a martial art similar to karate. According to historical records, the castle has fallen victim to fire on several occasions, in 1453, 1660, 1709, and most recently in October of 2019. During the last fire, a large part of the complex was destroyed, and restoration work began in 2022.

UNESCO
Since 1945, UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Science, and Cultural Organization) has been listing sites as "World Heritage". The aim for the program is to classify, name, and conserve the cultural or natural properties of importance to the common heritage of humanity. The program was founded by the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted at the UNESCO General Conference on November 16th, 1972. In 2019, 1,073 properties in 167 countries were listed.

This collection of coins celebrates three iconic monuments, each representing not only an architectural jewel but also a testament to human resilience over the centuries: Shuri Castle, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and the Colosseum in Rome. These buildings, constructed in different eras, share a common destiny on grandeur, destruction, and rebirth.