Spend it, save it, spin it, share it: How do you get the most from the Rolls-Royce of coins, the ¥500?

Inspired by Thomas Dillon's recent When East Marries West column, "¥500: the most expensive coin in the world, kinda," The Japan Times is challenging readers to come up with weird and wonderful ways to utilize the ¥500.

Please send your ideas to [email protected] or tweet them with the hashtag #500yen for a chance to win prizes.

Up for grabs:

Roast turkey
Roast turkey | THE MEAT GUY
• ¥5,000 in goods from The Meat Guy (www.themeatguy.com) (who also sells a variety of cheese, bread, fruit and even veggie goods).

Mince and cheese pie
Mince and cheese pie | PIE MAD JAPAN
• A selection of all 10 varieties of pie offered by Pie Mad Japan (www.pie-mad.com) (valued at ¥5,200).

Bread pudding
Bread pudding | SWEET JAMAICAN  THINGS
• Five 16-cm Jamaican Christmas Cakes, usually sold for ¥3,000, from Sweet Jamaican Things (www.sweetjamaicantings.com).

Readers can also order any pie priced at more than ¥500 from Pie Mad Japan for just ¥500 until the end of January by putting "JT13" in the "memo" field when they order online.

The closing date for the competition is Friday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. Here are some ¥500 ideas to get you started:

• Buy The Japan Times On Sunday (¥250) and a can of beer and ease into your day of rest.

• Stick one up a nostril and amaze your Japanese friends.

• Put it down on a dead cert at the races and walk away smiling.

• Indulge in a "pauper's night out" at your local convenience store: ¥120 on booze, ¥150 for noodles, ¥110 on dessert, ¥120 for coffee.