How many of you have some fine examples of Olympic commemorative coinage? My Japanese ones are in a previous thread, so i will start this one with Mexico '68
Here’s a proof 1980 Moscow Olympic 10 Ruble coin minted in 1978. It’s .900 silver. The USA boycotted these games due to the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. I bought it from my local dealer/friend because I used to cycle quite a bit in my younger day and he gave me a good price.
I managed to get a few of these for super cheap (~$4) on ebay because the seller listed them strangely. I love the design and the thick chunky coin. 1972 Munich Olympics - I don't have the complete set of these yet. I have a 1984 US Dollar from the LA Olympics too but it is somewhere in a safe right now. I'd love to pick up a few '88 Seoul Coins also.
Here's my Finnish 500 markkaa of 1952, commemorating the 15th Olympics at Helsinki. I bought it as a souvenir when visiting the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
These bronze issues were struck by Philip II (king of Macedon) to commemorate his victory in the equestrian events of the Olympics of 356 BC, the same year his son Alexander (the Great) was born. These coins were struck from 359 to 336 BC. Philip went on to win two more events in later Olympic games...
I can’t compete with @John Anthony and his ancients - very cool! But, here are 2 more of my Moscow Olympic coins - 5 Rubles. My kitchen lighting is throwing a golden tone to otherwise blast white coins. The weightlifter reminds me of me, lol.
I remember these two coins issued by Japan to commemorate the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Japan 1000 Yen 1964 Olympics Silver 35mm Japan 100 Yen 1964 Olympics Silver 22.5mm I lived in California and was able to purchase them in 1964 by mail from the San Francisco Bank of Japan office.
Finnish 500 markkaa of 1952, commemorating the 15th Olympics at Helsinki. I have this piece as part of the Commemorative Silver Coinage Of Scandinavia collection on the rare red Dansco album.
Here is my example of a silvered bronze plaque in the Art Nouveau style by the French medallist Paul Vannier, 49 x 70 mm., issued for the 1906 "Intercalated" Olympic Games in Athens, which originally were held as official Olympic Games in between the 1904 and 1908 games -- intended to be held every four years in Athens in between the regular games, beginning 10 years after the first modern games in 1896 -- with the results counting as official Olympic records. These games were later demoted to unofficial status. Obv.: Athlete stands holding a sword, laurel branch, and victory wreath in right hand, and a shield in left hand; in foreground the Athens Olympic Stadium with crowd; in background the Acropolis, with rising sun/ Rev. Winged angel holding trumpet in left hand to proclaim the victor and and a laurel branch in right hand, flying over an olive grove near the Acropolis; space for inscribing name of participating athlete. And here's a photo of my grandmother's brother competing in the 1906 Olympics in the long jump event (then known as the running broad jump), in which he won the gold medal. The 1900 Olympics in Paris were held in conjunction with the Universal Paris Exposition of 1900, so here's a silvered bronze medal by Oscar Roty (51 x 36 mm.), also in the Art Nouveau style, issued for the exposition. It's my understanding that this medal was distributed to judges and officials of the Olympic games that year. My grandmother's brother also competed in the 1900 games, and won the gold in the triple jump as well as a silver in the long jump in a famously controversial event. (In the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, he won gold medals in both those events.) Here's another Art Nouveau medal issued to commemorate the 1900 Paris Exposition, this one in bronze (53 mm.) by Georges Lemaire. Note the airship, the battleship, and the other tools of science and industry depicted on the reverse. The Mexico 25 Pesos issued for the 1968 games.
