Graphic artist Vladimir Pak, aged 34 and from Nakhodka, designed the coins featuring the white leopard mascot snowboarding with the Sochi 2014 logo to its right.

On the reverse is the Russian crest featuring the double eagle and РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ (The Russian Federation) pictured above.

There is a 100 rouble coin, and another of 50 roubles (pictured above), both of which are gold, as well as a silver 3 roubles coin.

The rectangular coins are 20mm by 28mm.

A further commemorative coin of 25 roubles (pictured) has also been issued, which features the Sochi 2014 logo against the backdrop of the town's picturesque mountains, where a number of sports at the Winter Olympics will take place.

The coat of arms of the Russian Federation appears on the front of the coin, which is 27mm in diameter, and it is made of white metal.

The Winter Olympics in Sochi get underway in just over two years' time, and the coins continue a tradition which dates back to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

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