TOKYO — Renowned precious metal store, GINZA TANAKA (TANAKA KIKINZOKU JEWELRY K.K., main office: Ginza, Chuo-ku, Representative Director & CEO: Masakazu Tanaka, hereinafter: GINZA TANAKA), marked its 125th year since establishment in 2017. Going forward, it will continue to pursue possibilities for its distinctive precious metal ornaments with a fixation on quality that has been passed down the generations since its foundation, without forgetting to be continuously grateful toward the many people who have supported the company over its 125 years.
GINZA TANAKA created a GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree (not for sale) made from 2017 Vienna Philharmonic coins (worth 350 million yen), which are issued by the Austrian Mint (CEO: Gerhard Starsich, main office: Vienna, Austria) and will display it on the first floor of its GINZA TANAKA main store (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) during the Christmas season from November 9 to December 25, 2017. This is the first Christmas tree in the world to be made from Vienna Philharmonic coins.
The GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree (height: approx. 3 m, width: 1.4 m) has been made from a total of 2017 coins (pure gold: approx. 63 kg) in reference to the year 2017. This includes 2016 one-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coins and one 20-ounce coin. This is the most pure gold that has ever been used in a Christmas tree by GINZA TANAKA. The 2016 one-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coins were placed individually by hand on a transparent acrylic square pyramid base and the top of the tree was adorned with a star-shaped decoration made using the 20-ounce Gold Philharmonic coin. The base supporting the Christmas tree was designed based on the Golden Hall of the Musikverein Wien and it has been made to rotate so that the Gold Philharmonic coins will reflect the light and shine.
For the back panel, trick art has been utilized in what is a first for GINZA TANAKA. Motifs such as musical instruments and musical notes shown behind the GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree have been gloriously designed together with the Christmas decorations. An optical illusion has been used to make it appear that the design emerges from the surface three-dimensionally depending on the angle it is viewed from. Visitors are welcome to take stunning pictures capturing the atmosphere of Vienna, the music capital of the world.
The GINZA TANAKA main store has displayed a Christmas tree made from precious metal every year from 2005, making this the 13th year that such a tree will be displayed. In the 125th year since GINZA TANAKA’s foundation, this year’s Christmas tree conveys the beauty of the Vienna Philharmonic coins and communicates the power and profound feeling of pure gold despite its simple silhouette. GINZA TANAKA directly managed by TANAKA KIKINZOKU, which is the sole agent for Gold Philharmonic coins in Japan, has utilized its distinctive characteristics to create this Christmas tree decadently covered in Vienna Philharmonic coins.
The Vienna Philharmonic Coin
Vienna Philharmonic coins are legal tender that the Austrian government guarantees as being made from gold of 99.99% purity. Because of this level of trust, it is the most commonly-purchased gold coin in Japan. It comes in four sizes — one ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce and 1/10 ounce. Therefore, it is popular not only for asset formation in accordance with budget, but also as a present for friends or family. In addition to investment coins, the coins are also available as various coin jewelry products such as pendants and broaches.
Outline of the GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree
Displayed item: GINZA TANAKA Vienna Philharmonic Coin Golden Christmas Tree (not for sale)
Display period: Thursday, November 9 – Monday, December 25, 2017, 10:30 to 19:00.
Display location: GINZA TANAKA main store, 1F Entrance
Materials:
One-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coins (K24, diameter: 37 mm, thickness: 2.0 mm, weight: 31.1035 g) Total: 2016 coins
Twenty-ounce Vienna Philharmonic coin (K24, diameter: 74 mm, thickness: 8.3 mm, weight: 622.07 g) Total: 1 coin
*A total of 2017 Vienna Philharmonic coins were used in the Christmas tree (Total weight: Approx. 63 kg, equivalent to 350 million yen)
Size:
Tree: Approx. 3 m high x approx. 1.4 m wide
Back panel: Approx. 3 m high x approx. 2.6 m wide
*The price of the 2017 Vienna Philharmonic coins has been calculated at a rate of 171,738 yen (retail price including tax) per ounce.