Commemorative coins for the 29th Olympic Games to be issued (photos attached)

Updated：2007-06-11

The People's Bank of China will issue on June 20 a set of common commemorative coins and a set of precious metal commemorative coins, respectively, for the 29th Olympic Games.

The latter set comprises three gold and five silver coins. Two gold coins weigh 1/3 ounce each and one gold coin weighs five ounces, while four of the silver coins weigh one ounce each and one weighs one kilogram.

I. Common Commemorative Coins

1. Commemorative Coin Design

This set of commemorative coins shares a common obverse design featuring the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games emblem and National Stadium and track. "People's Republic of China" is engraved in Chinese characters along the top inner edge of the coin obverse. The year "2008" is engraved along the bottom inner edge of the coin obverse. There are three designs for the reverse of the coins. One design features a BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games Mascot in a gymnastics position, "1 yuan" engraved in Chinese on the right side, and "the 29th Olympic Games" engraved in Chinese characters along the bottom inner edge. Another design features a BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games Mascot engaged in archery, "1 yuan" engraved in Chinese in the upper left, and "the 29th Olympic Games" engraved along the bottom inner edge. The last design features a BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games Mascot in a ping-pong pose, "1 yuan" engraved in Chinese on the left side, and "the 29th Olympic Games" engraved in Chinese along the bottom inner edge.

Common commemorative coins obverse design

Common commemorative coins reverse design

Common commemorative coins reverse design

Common commemorative coins reverse design

2. Face value, measurements, composition, and mintage limit of Commemorative Coins

The face value of the commemorative coins in this set is one yuan each. The coins are all 25 mm in diameter and are made of a brass alloy. The total mintage is set at 10 million.

3. These commemorative coins are legal tender in the People's Republic of China.

II. Precious Metal Commemorative Coins

1. Commemorative Coin Design

A. Obverse Design

Two gold coins at 1/3 ounce each; four silver coins at 1 ounce each: all six coins share a common obverse design featuring the emblem of the 29th Olympic Games amidst the traditional Chinese image of a pair of facing dragons. The nation's name and the year "2008" are engraved along the top and bottom inner edges of the coin reverse, respectively.

One gold coin weighing five ounces; one silver coin weighing one kilogram: both coins share a common obverse design featuring a color emblem of the 29th Olympic Games amidst the traditional Chinese image of a pair of facing dragon. The country's name and "2008" will be engraved along the top and bottom inner edges of the coin reverse, respectively.

1/3 ounce gold coin obverse design

1/3 ounce gold coin reverse design

1/3 ounce gold coin reverse design

Five-ounce gold coin obverse design

Five-ounce gold coin reverse design

B. Reverse Design

Two commemorative gold coins weighing 1/3 ounce each: one has a reverse design featuring the image of ancient Chinese swimming with "the 29th Olympic Games" etched in Chinese characters and the coin's face value. The other has a reverse design featuring the image of ancient Chinese weightlifting as well as the "the 29th Olympic Games" engraved in Chinese along with the coin's face value.

Four one-ounce commemorative silver coins: one coin's reverse design features the image of the Great Wall of China, Ru Yi jade, and the pattern from traditional Chinese painted pottery along with "the 29th Olympic Games" etched in Chinese and the coin's face value. A second coin's reverse design features the image of the Summer Palace, Ru Yi jade, and the pattern from traditional Chinese enamel art along with "the 29th Olympic Games" etched in Chinese and the coin's face value. Another coin's reverse design features the image of the Beihai Park, Ru Yi jade, and the pattern from traditional Chinese lacquer art along with "the 29th Olympic Games" etched in Chinese and the coin's face value. The last of four coin's reverse design features the image of a traditional Beijing dwelling, Ru Yi jade, and the pattern from traditional Chinese blue-and-white porcelain along with "the 29th Olympic Games" etched in Chinese and the coin's face value.

The five-ounce commemorative gold coin reverse design features the image of traditional Chinese martial arts and an abstract depiction of the five Olympic rings. It also features "the 29th Olympic Games" engraved in Chinese along with the coin's face value.

The one-kilogram commemorative silver coin's reverse design features the image of dragon boat racing and horse racing. It also features "the 29th Olympic Games" engraved in Chinese along with the coin's face value.

One-ounce silver coin obverse design

One-ounce silver coin reverse design

One-ounce silver coin reverse design

One-ounce silver coin reverse design

One-ounce silver coin reverse design

One-kilogram silver coin obverse design

One-kilogram silver coin reverse design

Measurements and Mintage Limit of the Commemorative Coins

Two exquisite, round commemorative gold coins weighing 1/3 ounce each of pure gold, 23 mm in diameter, 99.9% in purity, and a face value of 150 yuan, with the mintage limit set at 60,000.

Four exquisite, round commemorative gold coins weighing one ounce each of pure gold, 40 mm in diameter, 99.9% in purity, with a face value of 10 yuan, and mintage limit set at 160,000.

One exquisite, round commemorative gold coin weighing five ounces of pure gold, 60 mm in diameter, 99.9% in purity, face value of 2,000 yuan, with the mintage limit set at 2,008.

One exquisite, round commemorative silver coin weighing one kilogram of pure silver, 100 mm in diameter, 99.9% in purity, with a face value of 300 yuan and mintage limit set at 20,008.

The Shenzhen Guobao Mint, in collaboration with the Shanghai Mint and Shenyang Mint will be producing this set of commemorative coins. Each coin includes a letter Z, S, or Y to indicate which of the three mint facilities produced the coin. The coins will be distributed by China Gold Coins Incorporation.