Organizer Information
The Japan Mint is an Independent Administrative Institution of the Japanese government responsible for producing and circulating the coins of Japan, headquartered in Osaka with branches in Saitama and Hiroshima. It was established in Osaka by the Meiji government in 1871 to modernize the coinage system, holding its inaugural ceremony on April 4th of that year. Beyond coin production, Mint activities have expanded over the decades to include the production of orders (decorations), medals of honor, and metallic art objects, along with the analysis and testing of metal ores and minerals and the fineness certification of precious metal wares. Since 1998, the Japan Mint has invited coin designs from around the world through the International Coin Design Competition (ICDC) to encourage creativity and enhance the artistry of coin design.
Title & Description
The International Coin Design Competition (ICDC) 2026
With the aim of raising awareness among students who will lead the future of coin design, the Japan Mint hosts the International Coin Design Competition 2026, inviting participation from students both in Japan and abroad. Entrants submit an original coin design comprising both the obverse and reverse sides. The competition is aimed at discovering excellent, creative, and artistic coin designs from student designers worldwide.
Categories
- Design
- Industrial Design
- Drawing
- Illustration
Eligibility
- Open to any student registered at any school
- Applicant must have been born on or after August 31st, 1996
- Open to students both in Japan and abroad
- The International Award specifically is open only to applicants who are not Japanese nationals; recipients must submit official documentation verifying their nationality after results are announced, or the award will be revoked
Program Benefits & Awards
- Grand Award (one award): 100,000 yen and an award plaque
- Excellence Award (three awards): 30,000 yen and a supplementary prize each
- International Award (one award, open only to non-Japanese nationals): 30,000 yen and a supplementary prize
- Special Jury Award: 10,000 yen and a supplementary prize
- Encouragement Award: award certificate
- Note: awards may not be presented if there are no deserving entries, and taxes and other charges will be deducted from prize money
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Application Form
Japan Mint
Attention: ICDC 2026 Secretariat
1-79 Temma 1-chome
Kita-ku, Osaka
530-0043 JAPAN
(Please write “COIN DESIGN” in red on the envelope.)
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 16 September 2026
- Judging results announced to award-winners: by the end of November 2026
Location
Osaka, Japan
Additional Details
- Copyright to all submitted works transfers to the Japan Mint upon entry; copyright to non-winning works reverts to the respective entrants once award-winning works are selected, while copyright to award-winning works remains with the Japan Mint.
- Entries should not be submitted to any other competition until award-winning works have been selected.
- Entrants agree in advance to let the Japan Mint exhibit, publish, or otherwise use submitted works for publicity; award recipients further agree to let the Mint use their winning designs and related information on its website, in brochures, and in other Mint activities.
- Submitted works will not be returned to entrants, and the Japan Mint is not responsible for damages or losses during shipping.
- Any dispute with a third party concerning copyright or other rights in a submitted work is the entrant's own responsibility to resolve.
- If non-compliance with entry rules is discovered in an award-winning work, the award may be withdrawn.
- The Japan Mint cannot accept inquiries about competition results, and unsuccessful entrants will not be individually informed.
- Jury: KAWASUMI Shigemi (Sculptor/Medallist, former Chief Officer for Design of Japan Mint), IINO Ichiro (Chaser, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts), HOSHINA Toyomi (Contemporary artist, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts), the President of Japan Mint, and the Senior Designer of the Product Development Division, Japan Mint.