By Nick Butler

Two Rio 2016 commemorative coins are being launched today ©Banco Centre de BrazilA first set of commemorative coins are being released by the Brazilian Central Bank today to mark the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.


They are being launched at the Central Bank headquarters in Rio de Janeiro in a special ceremony this morning. 

The nine coins, which consist of special gold and silver editions as well as four for common circulation, will mark the first wave of 36 commemorative coins released to mark the first South American Games. 

The gold coin, worth BRL R$10 (£2.50/$3.90/€3.20), depicts the host city's iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer as well as an athlete competing in the 100 metres, chosen because it is one of the most famous events which best embodies the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius". 

Adopting a similar pattern, four silver coins, worth BRL R$5 (£1.25/$1.95/€1.80), each depict an iconic Rio landmark or cultural aspect on one side, with the obverse showing locations where popular sports, including rowing, running, cycling and beach volleyball, are played.

The coins released today will mark the first of several waves of Rio 2016 commemorative editions ©Banco Centre de BrazilThe coins released today will mark the first of several waves of Rio 2016 commemorative editions ©Banco Centre de Brazil



Sports taking place at both the Olympics and Paralympics in 2016 will be showcased in all the common circulation coins.

In the first release, athletics and swimming , the two sports in which Brazil has won most Olympic medals, are shown, as well as golf and Para-triathlon, two disciplines making their debuts in Rio.

These coins are worth BRL R$1 (£0.25/$0.39/€0.32).

All those to be released today were developed by the teams of the Central Bank and the Mint of Brazil, with the technical support provided by the Organising Committee for Rio 2016.

They will be entered into service for the banking network, with a portion also to be sold in special packaging for collection.

By releasing the coins, Brazil is continuing a tradition of recognising Olympic and Paralympics with special commemorations, with this also seen ahead of London 2012, where various special coins were released in the years building up to the Games.

The nine coins released today are a combination of collectors coins and ones designed for normal circulation ©Rio 2016/Alex FerroThe nine coins released today are a combination of collectors coins and ones designed for normal circulation ©Rio 2016/Alex Ferro



"The coins have been a part of the Games since Helsinki 1952 and it's a great honour to launch the first Rio 2016 coins in partnership with the Brazilian Central Bank," said Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman.

"Every Brazilian will have the chance to have a small part of the Games, and of their own country, in their hands."