The first Olympic coin can be traced back to 480 BC. The modern

Olympics The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competit ...

did not see its first commemoratives until 1951. The original concept of Olympic

coin A coin is a small object, usually round and flat, used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by ...

s was that the

Greeks Greeks or Hellenes (; , ) are an ethnic group and nation native to Greece, Greek Cypriots, Cyprus, Greeks in Albania, southern Albania, Greeks in Turkey#History, Anatolia, parts of Greeks in Italy, Italy and Egyptian Greeks, Egypt, and to a l ...

believed that coins brought the

general public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...

closer to the Olympic games.Ménard 1991, p.8 The premise was that those who could not attend the games could at least have a tangible souvenir of the event.Ménard 1991, p.8 In 1951 the government of

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

authorized the striking of the first modern Olympic coin, a 500 Markkaa. At first the coins circulated as

currency A currency is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general definition is that a currency is a ''system of money'' in common use within a specific envi ...

in the issuing country and the mintages were high. The coins were a memento of the 1951 Games, and a coin that

numismatists A numismatist is a specialist, researcher, and/or well-informed collector of numismatics/coins ("of coins"; from Late Latin , genitive of ). Numismatists can include collectors, specialist dealers, and scholar-researchers who use coins (and poss ...

could collect. With the exception of Canada's Lucky Loonie program and its 2007 25-cent pieces to commemorate the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, it is rare that Olympic coins are minted for circulation. Traditionally, Olympic coins are numismatic coins.Ménard 1991, p.8

Summer Games

1952 Helsinki Olympics

Specifications Dimensions

1964 Tokyo Olympics

100 Yen

Specifications Dimensions

1000 Yen

Specifications Dimensions

1968 Mexico City Olympics

Specifications Dimensions

1972 Munich Olympics

During the release of the first four series, a controversy was generated over the legend. The use of the legend, “IN DEUTSCHLAND” was a point of tension for

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

. The point was raised that the legend should have read “In München”. The legend was changed for Series Five.Ménard 1991, p.70

Series One

Specifications Dimensions

Series Two

Specifications Dimensions

Series Three

Specifications Dimensions

Series Four

Specifications Dimensions

Series Five

Specifications Dimensions

Series Six

Specifications Dimensions

1976 Montreal Olympics

Starting in February 1973, the RCM engaged in a very ambitious program. At the behest of the Federal Government, led by then-Prime Minister

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau (October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000) was a Canadian politician, statesman, and lawyer who served as the 15th prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. Between his no ...

, it was agreed that these coins would help finance while commemorate the

1976 Summer Olympics The 1976 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Montreal 1976 (), were an international multi-sport event held from July 17 to August 1, 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal ...

. An Official Act – The Olympic (1976) Act – authorized the issue of the legal tender coins. The plan was to have thirty coins: twenty-eight sterling (.925) silver coins with face values of $5 and $10, containing .723 Troy ounce and 1.44 Troy ounce of silver each respectively, and two gold coins. These coins would be categorized into seven series with each series configured into four coin sets (two five dollar coins and two ten dollar coins). The seven series were constituted as follows: * Geographic * Olympic Motifs * Early Canadian Sports * Olympic Track and Field Sports * Olympic Summer Sports * Olympic Team and Body Contact Sports * Olympic Souvenirs

Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

Series 4

Series 5

Series 6

Series 7

100 Dollar Gold

1980 Moscow Olympics

IN PROGRESS The Moscow Olympics were the first Olympic games to be held in a socialist country. An Act of the

Soviet government The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was the executive and administrative organ of the highest body of state authority, the All-Union Supreme Soviet. It was formed on 30 December 1922 and abolished on 26 December 199 ...

authorized the

Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...

and the

State Bank of the USSR The State Bank of the USSR (), known as the State Bank of the RSFSR from 1921 to 1923, and commonly referred to as Gosbank (), was the central bank and main component of the single-tier banking system of the Soviet Union. It replaced the State Ban ...

to issue a 28-coin collection of five and ten roubles in proof and uncirculated qualities. There was also six proof and six uncirculated gold 100 roubles, five proof and five uncirculated platinum 150 roubles, and six proof and six uncirculated 1 rouble coins.Ménard 1991, p.119

1 Rouble

The dimensions are the same for all 1 Rouble coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

Series One (Geographic)

The dimensions are the same for all the Series One Five Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications The dimensions are the same for all the Series One Ten Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

Series Two – Citius

Five Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Two Five Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications Ten Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Two Ten Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

Series Three – Altius

Five Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Three Five Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications *Ten Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Three Ten Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

Series Four – Fortius

*Five Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Four Five Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications *Ten Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Four Ten Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

Series Five – Sports and Beauty

*Five Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Five Five Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications *Ten Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Five Ten Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

Series Six – Team Sports

Five Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Six Five Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications Ten Roubles The dimensions are the same for all the Series Six Ten Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

100 Roubles

The dimensions are the same for all the 100 Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

150 Roubles

The dimensions are the same for all the 150 Roubles coins. *Dimensions *Specifications

1984 Los Angeles Olympics

The State of

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

and the municipality refused to finance the Games. The U.S.S.R. refused to participate in the games as well. Legislation from July 22, 1982 authorized an issue of Olympic coins. The Bill allowed the striking of six coins bearing three different designs. The United States struck its first Olympic coins ever, and its first gold coin in fifty years.Ménard 1991, p.186 Uncirculated Coins were produced at the

United States Mint The United States Mint is a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce, as well as controlling the movement of bull ...

’s facilities in

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

and West Point.

One Dollar

*Dimensions *Specifications

Ten Dollars

*Dimensions *Specifications

1988 Seoul Games

Specifications

1000 Won

Ménard 1991, p.212

2000 Won

Ménard 1991, p.211

5000 Won

Ménard 1991, p.210

10,000 Won

Ménard 1991, p.209

25,000 Won

Ménard 1991, p.206

50,000 Won

Ménard 1991, p.205

Series One

Series Two

Series Three

Series Four

1992 Barcelona Games

Dimensions

25 Pesetas

Specifications

Spanish Art

* Series One *Series Two

Olympic Spirit

* Series One * Series Two

Spanish Tradition

* Series One * Series Two

1996 Atlanta Games

Half Dollar

One Dollar

Five Dollars

The United States Mint Historical Image Library
/ref>

Centennial Olympic Coin Program, 1992-1996

As 1996 marked the centennial of the first modern Olympic games held in Athens, a series of five gold and ten silver coins were struck by five countries:

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

, and

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. The concept for the program was first discussed in 1986 and 1987. The

Royal Canadian Mint The Royal Canadian Mint () is the mint of Canada and a Crown corporation, operating under an act of parliament referred to as the ''Royal Canadian Mint Act''. The shares of the mint are held in trust for the Crown in right of Canada. The mi ...

held the view that the Centennial of the modern

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a Multi-s ...

should be commemorated. The

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based i ...

was approached on the idea and five Mints were invited to participate in the program. This marked the first time that the International Olympic Committee participated in an international commemorative coin program.Ménard 1991, p.291

References

Sources

Citations

{{Olympic Games Olympics, Modern Coins, Modern +