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.Coins of the Modern Olympic Games, Volume 1, Michele Menard, page 8, The premise was that those who could not attend the games could at least have a tangible souvenir of the event.
In 1951, the government of Finland authorized the striking of the first modern Olympic coin, a 500 Markkaa. The first Winter Games coin that numismatists could add to their collection was in 1964. An Official Act of the Government of Austria authorized the Austrian Mint to strike a commemorative 50 Schilling coin for the event.Coins of the Modern Olympic Games, Volume 1, Michele Menard, page 56,
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. Please see Summer Olympic coins for details on summer games coins from 1952–1996. Please see Summer Olympic Coins (2000-present) for 21st Century Olympic coins. Please see Olympic Banknotes for details on all Olympic banknotes.
Winter Games YearEventHost cityNumber of coins1924 2001I Olympic Winter Games Chamonix, France None1928 II Olympic Winter Games St. Moritz, Switzerland None1932 III Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid, United States None1936 IV Olympic Winter Games Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany None1948 V Olympic Winter Games St. Moritz, Switzerland None1952 VI Olympic Winter Games Oslo, Norway None1956 VII Olympic Winter Games Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy None1960 VIII Olympic Winter Games Squaw Valley, United States None1964 IX Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck, Austria 11968 X Olympic Winter Games Grenoble, France None1972 XI Olympic Winter Games Sapporo, Japan 11976 XII Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck, Austria 41980 XIII Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid, United States None1984 XIV Olympic Winter Games Sarajevo, Yugoslavia 181988 XV Olympic Winter Games Calgary, Canada 111992 XVI Olympic Winter Games Albertville, France 151994 XVII Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer, Norway 161998 XVIII Olympic Winter Games Nagano, Japan 92002 XIX Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City, United States 22006 XX Olympic Winter Games Turin, Italy 112010 XXI Olympic Winter Games Vancouver, Canada 172014 XXII Olympic Winter Games Sochi, Russia 462018 XXIII Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang, South Korea 242022 XXIV Olympic Winter Games Beijing, China 242026 XXV Olympic Winter Games Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Specifications for Winter Games coins
1964 Innsbruck Olympics
Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish50 SchillingA ski jumper with the Tyrolean Alps in the background, the Olympic rings, the legend: “IX Olympische Winterspiele 1964 Innsbruck” and the name of the artist GrienauerEdwin GrienauerThe nine coats of arms of the Austrian Federal Provinces, and the legend: “Republik Osterreich” and “50 Schilling”Arnold HartigLettering on a plain edge: “50 Schilling”1964Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price34 mm20 grams2.35 mm.900 silver and .100 copper67,950 (Proof) and 2,832,050 (Circulated)No Mint marksMunze Osterreich (Austrian Mint)50 Austrian Schilling
1972 Sapporo Olympics
Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish100 Yen100, the Olympic rings, a snowflake on each side, above the legend: 1972, and a Japanese word meaning Sapporo, and below, a Japanese legend meaning: “year 47 of the reign of Showa”Mint OfficialsThe Olympic torch, the legend: Sapporo, the Japanese legend meaning: “Japan” and below, a Japanese text meaning: “100 Yen”Mint OfficialsMilled1972Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price30 mm12 grams2.4 mmCupronickel (.750 copper and .250 nickel)30,000,000No mint marksThe Ministry of Finance, Mint Bureau100 Yen
1976 Innsbruck Olympics The games were to be held in Denver, Colorado but after two years of preparation, the city withdrew and Innsbruck was chosen to stage the Games.Coins of the Modern Olympic Games, Michèle Ménard, p. 77, 1991, The Hall Mint, one of the oldest mints in Europe was reopened to strike some of the coins.Coins of the Modern Olympic Games, Michèle Ménard, p. 79, 1991,
Series One Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish100 SchillingThe Innsbruck Olympic emblem, the legend: “XII Olympische Winterspiele”, stylized snowflakes at the bottom, and the artist's name below.Ferdinand WelzTen coats of arms: Republic Eagle of Austria and the arms of the Federal Provinces (See Note)Edwin GrienauerLettering on a plain edge: 100 Schilling1974Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintageMint MarkStruck byIssue Price36 mm24 grams2.70 mm.640 silver and .360 copperProof: 373,600, Circulated: 2,826,400No mint marksMunze Osterreich (Austrian Mint)Proof: 140 Austrian Schilling, Circulated: 100 Austrian Schilling
NOTE: The Federal Provinces are: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorallberg and Vienna
Series Two Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish100 SchillingA townscape Innsbruck, the Olympic rings, the legend: “XII Olympische Winterspiele Innsbruck 1976”, and the name Zelger.Arthur Zegler and Kutr BaduakThe emblem of Austria with a stylized Austrian eagle and the legend: “Republik Osterreich 100 Schilling”Helmuth GsollpointnerLettering on a plain edge: 100 Schilling1975Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintage (Vienna Shield)Mintage (Hall Eagle)Mint MarkStruck byIssue Price36 mm24 grams2.70 mm.640 silver and .360 copperProof: 232,000, Circulated: 2,718,000Proof: 223,000, Circulated: 2,692,000No mint marksMunze Osterreich (Austrian Mint)Proof: 150 Austrian Schilling, Circulated: 100 Austrian Schilling
Series Three Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish100 SchillingA stylized skier, the legend: “XII Olympische Winterspiele Innsbruck 1976”, and the name Zobl.Helmut ZoblThe emblem of Austria with a stylized Austrian eagle and the legend: “Republik Osterreich 100 Schilling”Helmuth GsollpointnerLettering on a plain edge: 100 Schilling1975Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintage (Vienna Shield)Mintage (Hall Eagle)Mint MarkStruck byIssue Price36 mm24 grams2.70 mm.640 silver and .360 copperProof: 184,200, Circulated: 2,640,800Proof: 179,000, Circulated: 2,636,000No mint marksMunze Osterreich (Austrian Mint)Proof: 150 Austrian Schilling, Circulated: 100 Austrian Schilling
Series Four Specifications DenominationReverse DesignArtistObverse DesignArtistEdgeDate of IssueFinish100 SchillingThe Bergisel ski jump and the Olympic rings with the legend: “XII Olympische Winterspiele Innsbruck 1976”, and above the rings, the words: “Bregisel Schanze”, and the artist’sname Bucheder.Erwin BuchederThe emblem of Austria with a stylized Austrian eagle and the legend: “Republik Osterreich 100 Schilling”Helmuth GsollpointnerLettering on a plain edge: 100 Schilling1975Proof and Circulated
Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMintage (Vienna Shield)Mintage (Hall Eagle)Mint MarkStruck byIssue Price36 mm24 grams2.70 mm.640 silver and .360 copperProof: 188,000, Circulated: 2,627,000Proof: 179,400, Circulated: 2,610,600No mint marksMunze Osterreich (Austrian Mint)Proof: 150 Austrian Schilling, Circulated: 100 Austrian Schilling
1984 Sarajevo Olympics At the time, Sarajevo was the second largest city to host the Olympic Winter Games.Coins of the Modern Olympic Games, Volume 1, Michelle Menard, p. 166, These were the first Winter Olympic Games that featured gold coins. Marja-Liisa Haemaelaeinen of Finland was the first woman to win three gold medals in cross country skiing. Katarina Witt won her first Olympic gold medal in Figure Skating, and figure skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Gold Medal, and performed to the music of Ravel's Bolero.
100 Dinara The dimensions are the same for all the 100 Dinara coins. Each series of coins had the same themes: Culture and History, Ice Sports, and Snow Sports. Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMint MarkStruck by30 mm13 grams1.8 mm.925 silver and .075 copperNo MintmarksZlatara Majdanpek (ZM) and Zavod za izradu novcanica (ZIN)
The artists for all Reverse Designs were Nebojsa Mitric, Dragisa Andric, Dragomir Mileusnic, Djordje Jovanovic, and Ljubisa Mancic. The artist for all Obverse Designs was Nebojsa Mitric. Specifications SeriesReverse DesignObverse DesignEdgeDate of IssueFinishMintage (ZM)Mintage (ZIN)Issue PriceOneTwo ice hockey players, and the legend, “XIV Zimske Olimpijske Igre Sarajevo ‘84”, meaning: “XIV Olympic Winter Games Sarajevo ‘84”.The Olympic emblem of Sarajevo, the emblem of Yugoslavia, and a Cyrillic legend, meaning: “The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”Milled1982 (released December 15, 1983)Proof31,13546,3233,375 Dinar ($29.50 US)TwoA figure skater, and the legend, “XIV Zimske Olimpijske Igre Sarajevo ‘84”, meaning: “XIV Olympic Winter Games Sarajevo ‘84”.The Olympic emblem of Sarajevo, the emblem of Yugoslavia, and a Cyrillic legend, meaning: “The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”Milled1983Proof58,69717,6143,375 Dinar ($29.50 US)ThreeTwo man bobsleigh, and the legend, “XIV Zimske Olimpijske Igre Sarajevo ‘84”, meaning: “XIV Olympic Winter Games Sarajevo ‘84”.The Olympic emblem of Sarajevo, the emblem of Yugoslavia, and a Cyrillic legend, meaning: “The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”Milled1983Proof42,9585,1163,375 Dinar ($29.50 US)FourSpeed skater, and the legend, “XIV Zimske Olimpijske Igre Sarajevo ‘84”, meaning: “XIV Olympic Winter Games Sarajevo ‘84”.The Olympic emblem of Sarajevo, the emblem of Yugoslavia, and a Cyrillic legend, meaning: “The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”Milled1984Proof39,5046,1883,375 Dinar ($29.50 US)FiveA pair of figure skaters, and the legend, “XIV Zimske Olimpijske Igre Sarajevo ‘84”, meaning: “XIV Olympic Winter Games Sarajevo ‘84”.The Olympic emblem of Sarajevo, the emblem of Yugoslavia, and a Cyrillic legend, meaning: “The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”Milled1984Proof33,3878,4683,375 Dinar ($29.50 US)
250 Dinara The dimensions are the same for all the 250 Dinara coins. Each series of coins had the same themes: Culture and History, Ice Sports, and Snow Sports. Dimensions DiameterWeightThicknessCompositionMint MarkStruck by34 mm17 grams1.85 mm.925 silver and .075 copperNo MintmarksZlatara Majdanpek (ZM) and Zavod za izradu novcanica (ZIN)
The artists for all Reverse Designs were Nebojsa Mitric, Dragisa Andric, Dragomir Mileusnic, Djordje Jovanovic, and Ljubisa Mancic. The artist for all Obverse Designs was Nebojsa Mitric. Specifications