Although the first Olympic coin can be traced back to 480 BC, the modern

Olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...

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

coin A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic 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 t ...

s was that the

Greeks The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, oth ...

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 ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

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

currency A currency, "in circulation", from la, currens, -entis, literally meaning "running" or "traversing" 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 def ...

in the issuing country and the mintages were high. In borrowing from the traditions of ancient Greece, the coins were a memento of the 1951 Games, and a coin that

numismatists A numismatist is a specialist in numismatics ("of coins"; from Late Latin ''numismatis'', genitive of ''numisma''). Numismatists include collectors, specialist dealers, and scholars who use coins and other currency in object-based research. Altho ...

could now add to their collection. 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 the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

. 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), also referred to by his initials PET, was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 15th prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and ...

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

1976 Summer Olympics Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phi ...

. 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 Soviet Union ( rus, Прави́тельство СССР, p=prɐˈvʲitʲɪlʲstvə ɛs ɛs ɛs ˈɛr, r=Pravítelstvo SSSR, lang=no), formally the All-Union Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, commonly ab ...

authorized the

Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the finance. Lists of current ministries of finance Named "Ministry" * Ministry of Finance (Afghanistan) * Ministry of Finance and Eco ...

and the State Bank of the USSR 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, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

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 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 bullion. It does not produce paper money; tha ...

’s facilities in

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

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 ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

, and

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

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

Royal Canadian Mint }) is the mint of Canada and a Crown corporation, operating under the ''Royal Canadian Mint Act''. The shares of the Mint are held in trust for the Crown in right of Canada. The Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures ...

held the view that the Centennial of the modern

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...

should be commemorated. The

International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

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

{{reflist, 15em Olympics, Modern Coins, Modern +