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.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 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. The coins were a memento of the 1951 Games, and a coin that numismatists 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 YearEventNumber of Coins 1896I Olympic Games, Athens, GreeceNone1900 II Olympic Games, Paris, FranceNone1904III Olympic Games, St. Louis, USANone1908 IV Olympic Games, London, EnglandNone1912 V Olympic Games, Stockholm, SwedenNone1920 VII Olympic Games, Antwerp, BelgiumNone1924 VIII Olympic Games, Paris, FranceNone 1928IX Olympic Games, Amsterdam, NetherlandsNone 1932 X Olympic Games, Los Angeles, USANone 1936 XI Olympic Games, Berlin, GermanyNone 1948 XIV Olympic Games, London, EnglandNone1952 XV Olympic Games, Helsinki, Finland11956 XVI Olympic Games, Melbourne, Australia and Stockholm, SwedenNone1960 XVII Olympic Games, Rome, Italy None1964 XVIII Olympic Games, Tokyo, Japan21968 XIX Olympic Games, Mexico City, Mexico 11972 XX Olympic Games, Munich, Germany61976 XXI Olympic Games, Montreal, Quebec, Canada301980 XXII Olympic Games, Moscow, Russia451984 XXIII Olympic Games, Los Angeles, USA61988 XXIV Olympic Games, Seoul, Korea321992 XXV Olympic Games, Barcelona, Spain301996 XXVI Olympic Games, Atlanta, USA162000 XXVII Olympic Games, Sydney, Australia592004 XXVIII Olympic Games, Athens, Greece252008 XXIX Olympic Games, Beijing, China27 “USOC selects distributors for Beijing Games coinage”, Jeff Starek, Coin World, June 25, 2007, p. 1102012 XXX Olympic Games, London, England332016XXXI Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil362020XXXII Olympic Games, Tokyo, Japan392024XXXIII Olympic Games, Paris, France
1952 Helsinki Olympics
Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish500 MarkkaaA wreath surrounding 500 and the legend: "Suomi Finland Markkaa"A. Altonen and M. VisantiThe Olympic Rings and the legend: “XV Olympia, Helsinki” and the year of 1951 or 1952A. Altonen and M. Visanti Symbols of 18 pairs and hands1951 or 1952Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price32 mm12 grams2 mm.500 silver, .400 copper, and .100 nickel18,500 (1951) and 586,500 (1952)H (for Director Helle)Suomen Rahapaja (Finnish Mint)500 Markkaa (approximately $2.25 US)
1964 Tokyo Olympics
100 Yen Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish100 YenThe rising sun in the centre, small olive leaves, 100 superimposed, and the legend: “Tokyo 1964” above and below a Japanese legend meaning: “year 39 of the reign of Showa”Miss Shoko MaejimaThe Olympic flame with the Olympic rings and a Japanese legend meaning: “Japan 100 Yen”Miss Shoko MaejimaMilled1964Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price22.6 mm4.8 grams1.7 mm.600 silver, .300 copper, and .100 zinc80,000,000No Mint marksThe Ministry of Finance, Mint Bureau100 Yen
1000 Yen Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish1000 YenCherry blossoms, the Olympic rings, 1 000 yen, the legend: “1964 Tokyo” and a Japanese legend meaning: “year 39 of the reign of Showa”Mint OfficialsMount Fuji with Cherry Blossoms on each side and a Japanese legend meaning: “Japan 1000 yen”Mint OfficialsMilled1964Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price35 mm20 grams2.5 mm.925 silver and .075 copper15,000,000No Mint marksThe Ministry of Finance, Mint Bureau1000 Yen
1968 Mexico City Olympics
Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish25 pesosAn Aztec ballplayer, the Olympic rings, and the legend: “Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada Mexico 1968”Lorenzo RafaelAn eagle fighting a snake, the legend: “Estados Unidos Mexicanos”, the words “ley 0.720” and 25 pesosRicardo Luna Y Vasco Incused lettering “Independencia y Libertad”1968Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price38 mm22.5 grams2 mm.720 silver and .280 copper30,000,000M (small “o” above the “M”)La Casa de Moneda de Mexico (Mexican Mint)25 pesos
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. 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 DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish10 Deutsche MarkA stylized German Eagle, and the legend: “10 Deutsche Mark Bundesrepublik Deutschland”Greta Lippi-Heinsen, MunichThe 1972 Olympic emblem of Munich, nicknamed “The Wheel of Fortune”, and the legend: “Spiele der XX Olympiade 1972 in Deutschland”Greta Lippi-Heinsen, MunichLettering on a plain edge “Citius Altius Fortius”1972 (released in January 1970)Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price32.5 mm15.5 grams2.25 mm.625 silver and .375 copperAll mint marks: 125,000 each Proof, 2,375,000 each Circulated Below the Eagle's right claw: D, F, G, JBayer. Hauptmunzamt, Munich (D), Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Hamburg (J)Proof: 15 Deutsche Mark, Circulated: 10 Deutsche Mark
Series Two Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish10 Deutsche MarkA stylized German Eagle, and the legend: “Bundesrepublik Deutschland 10 Deutsche Mark”Reinhart Heinsdorff, LehenIntertwining chains on a ribbed disc and the legend: “Olympische Spiele 1972 in München”Reinhart Heinsdorff, LehenLettering on a plain edge “Citius Altius Fortius”1972 (released in July 1971)Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price32.5 mm15.5 grams2.25 mm.625 silver and .375 copperAll mint marks: 125,000 each Proof, 4,875,000 each Circulated Below the Eagle's left claw: D, F, G, JBayer. Hauptmunzamt, Munich (D), Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Hamburg (J)Proof: 15 Deutsche Mark, Circulated: 10 Deutsche Mark
Series Three Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish10 Deutsche MarkA stylized German Eagle, and the legend: “Bundesrepublik Deutschland 10 Deutsche Mark”Siegmund Schutz, BerlinA male ball player, a female gymnast and the legend: “Spiele der XX Olympiade 1972 in München”Siegmund Schutz, BerlinLettering on a plain edge “Citius Altius Fortius”1972 (released in December 1971)Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price32.5 mm15.5 grams2.25 mm.625 silver and .375 copperAll mint marks: 150,000 each Proof, 4,850,000 each Circulated Under the Eagle's right wing: D, F, G, JBayer. Hauptmunzamt, Munich (D), Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Hamburg (J)Proof: 15 Deutsche Mark, Circulated: 10 Deutsche Mark
Series Four Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish10 Deutsche MarkA German Eagle with asymmetrical wings, and the legend: “Bundesrepublik Deutschland 10 Deutsche Mark”Doris Waschk-Balz, HamburgAn aerial view of Munich Olympic stadium and the legend: “Olympische Spiele München 26.8-10.9 1972”Doris Waschk-Balz, HamburgLettering on a plain edge “Citius Altius Fortius”1972 (released in May 1972)Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price32.5 mm15.5 grams2.25 mm.625 silver and .375 copperAll mint marks: 150,000 each Proof, 4,850,000 each Circulated Below the legend: D, F, G, JBayer. Hauptmunzamt, Munich (D), Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Hamburg (J)Proof: 15 Deutsche Mark, Circulated: 10 Deutsche Mark
Series Five Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish10 Deutsche MarkA stylized German Eagle, and the legend: “Bundesrepublik Deutschland 10 Deutsche Mark”Greta Lippi-Heinsen, MunichThe emblem of the 1972 Munich Games and the legend: “Spiele der XX Olympiade 1972 in München”Greta Lippi-Heinsen, MunichLettering on a plain edge “Citius Altius Fortius”1972 (released in July 1972)Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price32.5 mm15.5 grams2.25 mm.625 silver and .375 copperAll mint marks: 150,000 each Proof, 2,350,000 each Circulated Below the legend: D, F, G, JBayer. Hauptmunzamt, Munich (D), Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Hamburg (J)Proof: 15 Deutsche Mark, Circulated: 10 Deutsche Mark
Series Six Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish10 Deutsche MarkA stylized German Eagle, and the legend: “Bundesrepublik Deutschland 10 Deutsche Mark”Siegmund Schutz, BerlinThe flame with a small Munich Olympic emblem, and the legend: “Spiele der XX Olympiade 1972 in München”Siegmund Schutz, BerlinLettering on a plain edge “Citius Altius Fortius”1972 (released in July 1972)Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price32.5 mm15.5 grams2.25 mm.625 silver and .375 copperAll mint marks: 150,000 each Proof, 4,850,000 each Circulated Below the legend: D, F, G, JBayer. Hauptmunzamt, Munich (D), Stuttgart (F), Karlsruhe (G), Hamburg (J)Proof: 15 Deutsche Mark, Circulated: 10 Deutsche Mark
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, it was agreed that these coins would help finance while commemorate the 1976 Summer Olympics. 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).Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, p.234, 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 YearCoin NumberDenominationReverse DesignArtistMintageIssue Price (Encapsulated)Issue Price (Standard Case)1973Coin No. 1Ten DollarsMap of WorldGeorges Huel543,098$12.00$14.001973Coin No. 2Five DollarsMap of North AmericaGeorges Huel537,898$6.00$7.501973Coin No. 3Ten DollarsMontreal SkylineGeorges HuelIncluded in mintage of No. 1$12.00$14.001973Coin No. 4Five DollarsKingston and SailboatsGeorges HuelIncluded in mintage of No. 2$6.00$7.50
Series 2 YearCoin NumberDenominationReverse DesignArtistMintageIssue Price (Encapsulated)Issue Price (Standard Case)1974Coin No. 5Ten DollarsHead of ZeusAnthony Mann1,990,570$15.00$17.001974Coin No. 6Five DollarsAthlete with TorchAnthony Mann1,974,939$7.50$9.001974Coin No. 7Ten DollarsTemple of ZeusAnthony MannIncluded in mintage of No. 5$15.00$17.001974Coin No. 8Five DollarsOlympic Rings and WreathAnthony MannIncluded in mintage of No. 6$7.50$9.00
Series 3