Olympic sports and numismatics

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the relationship between the history of the Olympic Games and numismatics, focusing on the systematization and analysis of commemorative coins issued for the Summer Olympic Games held between 1952 and 1980. The study covers seven Olympiads - the XV Helsinki (1952), XVIII Tokyo (1964), XIX Mexico City (1968), XX Munich (1972), XXI Montreal (1976), and XXII Moscow (1980) Games. It provides a detailed description of the commemorative coins, their emblematic symbolism, technical characteristics (composition, diameter, weight, thickness), and design features.

A special emphasis is placed on the unique 30-coin series of the 1976 Montreal Olympics (28 silver and 2 gold coins), divided into seven thematic groups, and on the extensive series of the 1980 Moscow Olympics (6 nickel-bronze, 28 silver, 6 gold, and 5 platinum coins), which depict both Olympic and traditional national sports of the USSR. The study highlights the role of various mints (Leningrad, Moscow, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Hamburg), the contributions of coin designers, and data on mintages.

The article underscores the importance of Olympic numismatics as a means of preserving cultural heritage, documenting the history of sports, and symbolizing international cooperation. The material serves as a valuable resource for numismatists and researchers interested in Olympic themes.