For 21st-century Summer Olympic coins, see Summer Olympic Coins (2000–present).
"Olympic coins" redirects here. For Winter Olympic coins, see Winter Olympic coins.
Although the first Olympic coin can be traced back to 480 BC, the modern Olympics did not see its first commemoratives until 1951. The original concept of Olympic coins was that the Greeks believed that coins brought the general public closer to the Olympic games.[1] The premise was that those who could not attend the games could at least have a tangible souvenir of the event.[1]
In 1951, the government of Finland authorized the striking of the first modern Olympic coin, a 500 Markkaa. At first, the coins circulated as currency 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 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.[1]
^ abcMénard 1991, p.8
and 28 Related for: Summer Olympic coins information
2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, it is rare that Olympiccoins are minted for circulation. Traditionally, Olympiccoins are numismatic coins. Specifications...
that Olympiccoins are minted for circulation. Traditionally, Olympiccoins are numismatic coins. Please see SummerOlympiccoins for details on summer games...
often included musical performances. Olympics portal SummerOlympiccoins Winter Olympiccoins Lists of Olympic medalists James Brendan Connolly, recipient...
commemorative coins to commemorate the 1984 SummerOlympic games held in Los Angeles. These coins were authorized by Public Law 97-220. The first coin of the...
that these coins would help finance and commemorate the 1976 SummerOlympics. The plan was to have thirty coins, twenty-eight silver coins with face values...
The 1980 SummerOlympics (Russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, romanized: Letnije Olimpijskije igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII...
The 1992 Olympic commemorative coins are a series of commemorative coins which were issued by the United States Mint in 1992. The 1992 Olympic Commemorative...
Commemorative coins have been minted on various occasions in base metal, silver and gold. The first of these were silver ¥100 and ¥1,000 SummerOlympiccoins issued...
The 2012 SummerOlympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012, were an international multi-sport event held from 27 July...
The 1988 Olympic commemorative coins are a series of commemorative coins which were issued by the United States Mint in 1988. The 1988 Olympic Commemorative...
The 1992 SummerOlympics (Spanish: Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, Catalan: Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV...
The 2004 SummerOlympics (Greek: Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, romanized: Therinoí Olympiakoí Agónes 2004), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad...
Helsinki Olympic Games hosted in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium was the main motif for one of the first Finnish euro silver commemorative coins, the 50th...
commemorative coin series minted for the 1980 SummerOlympics in Moscow, along with cupronickel coins, silver 5 and 10 rubles, and gold 100 ruble coins. These...
commemorate the summer 1964 Olympics in Tokyo 16 million ounces of silver was used to strike the 80,000,000 coins produced. None of these coins were recorded...
The 2000 SummerOlympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New...
that a symbolic flame made its appearance in the SummerOlympic Games was for the 1928 SummerOlympics in Amsterdam. The main purpose of this fire, placed...
The 1924 SummerOlympics (French: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (French: Jeux de la VIIIe olympiade) and also...
also have the right to mint coins with their own designs on the obverse side. The coins, and various commemorative coins, are minted at numerous national...
The 1952 SummerOlympics (Finnish: Kesäolympialaiset 1952), officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad (Finnish: XV olympiadin kisat), and commonly...
The broadcasts of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games produced by NBC Sports are shown on the various platforms of NBCUniversal in the United States,...
The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (French: Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions...
inflation this role has been transferred to higher value coins. Crowns, £5 coins and (until 1996) £2 coins are non-circulating, although they are still legal...
The 1972 SummerOlympics (German: Olympische Sommerspiele 1972), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad (German: Spiele der XX. Olympiade) and...
The 1984 SummerOlympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held...
overall hue. Other coins using a non-circular curve of constant width include the 7-sided British twenty pence and fifty pence coins (the latter of which...
coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures precious and base metal collector coins;...
tender, those earlier coins had never been common in everyday circulation. As of March 2014 there were an estimated 417 million £2 coins in circulation with...
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