232) The 31st Summer Olympics or the "XXXI Summer Olympic Games" or Rio 2016 being held in Brazil (05.08.2016 – 21.08.2016): Commemorative Coins and Postage stamps:

232) The 31st Summer Olympics or the  "XXXI Summer Olympic Games" or Rio 2016 being held in Brazil (05.08.2016 – 21.08.2016): Commemorative Coins and Postage stamps:

1) For more on the Olympics and Paralympics held in the past, including the origins and history of the Olympics and Commemorative coins issued both on London Olympics and Paralympics please read my post on the London Olympics 2012 link as follows: History of the ancient & modern Olympics and Paralympics & commemorative coins issued during the London Olympics and Paralympics

2) For the Moscow Summer Olympics held in 1980: please read the post on the following link: Commemorative Coins issued on the occasion of Moscow Summer Olympics 1980 by the Russian Mint

3) For the Winter Olympics held at Sochi, Russia and the Commemorative Banknote issued, please read the post on the following link:A 100 Rouble Banknote Commemorating the Sochi, Russia Winter Olympics 2014

4) For Rio 2016, please click on the following link to get interesting insights into the mascots of the Rio Olympics Vinicius and Tom, the Games and the Commemorative Coins and stamps issue programme: 1)The 31st Summer Olympics "Rio 2016"
2) Commemorative Stamps and booklets issued by the Department of Posts, India on 05.08.2016 
5) For Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity, please click on the following link: Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity
6) For a set of Post cards titled "Olympic Events" : please click on the following link:  "Olympic Events": A set of 12 Post Cards issued by the Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post on 11.07.2016
7) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "Spirit of Olympics, Athens, Atlanta" please visit the following link: Spirit of the Olympic Games, Athens-Atlanta: Celebrating the Centenary of the Modern Olympic Games  
 8) For a presentation set of four stamps titled "XXVIII Olympic Games" (2004 Summer Olympics Athens, Greece, please visit the following link: XVIII Summer Olympic Games, Athens Greece (2004)
9) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "XXIX Olympic Games" (2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing, China, please visit the following link: XXIX Olympic Games Beijing, China: 08.08.08- 24.08.08: A Presentation set of four stamps issued by India Post on 08.08.08

The 2016 Summer Olympics (Portuguese: “Jogos Olimpicos de Verao de 2016”) officially known as the “Games of the XXXI Olympiad” or the “31^st Summer Olympic Games”, commonly known as RIO 2016, is going to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 05.08.2016 to 21.08.2016.

Sports disciplines which will feature in the Rio 2016 Games:

The Games will feature 306 events in 28 sports, including Rugby, Sevens and Golf which were included by the International Olympic Committee in 2009.  The Olympic sports will include Aquatics – Diving, Swimming , Synchronised Swimming and Water Polo; Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing – Slalom and Sprint; Cycling – BMX, Mountain Biking, Road and Track; Equestrian – Dressage, Eventing and  Jumping; Fencing, Field hockey, Football, Golf, Gymnastics – Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline; Handball, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Rowing, Rugby Sevens, Sailing, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball – Volleyball and Beach Volley-Ball; Weight lifting, Wrestling – Freestyle and Greco-Roman.

These sporting events will take place across 33 venues spread across four regions of the city – Barra da Tijuca (which will host most of the venues of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 and also house the Olympic village), Copacabana Beach, Deodoro and Maracana.

In all 142 countries which have qualified to participate in the Games, will be sending 4489 Athletes, (however 206 countries are expected to participate with a total Athlete strength of more than 10500 athletes).

Torch Relay:

The Torch Relay will begin on 3^rd May 2016 and will pass through more than 300 Brazilian cities (including all the 26 State Capitals and the Brazilian Federal District), after the Greek Phase – Olympia to Athens. The Brazilian Phase will start in the Capital Brasilia and the last phase will be conducted in Rio de Janeiro City.

Motto: The motto of the Games is “Live Your Passion” or “Viva Sua Paixao” (in Portuguese).

Logo of Rio 2016:

           The above is an image of the logo of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics

The Rio 2016 Logo has been designed by Tatil Design, a Brazilian Company. The Logo represents three figures in the yellow, green and blue of the Brazilian flag, joined at the arms and in triple embrace, with the overall shape reflecting that of Sugarloaf Mountain.

The Logo is based on four concepts – Contagious Energy, Harmonious Diversity, Exuberant Nature and Olympic Spirit. The Logo captures the vision of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil for these Games.

 The Logo is however not without considerable controversy and is said to have being plagiarised from the Colorado based Philanthropic Organisation Telluride Foundation.

Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Mascots have been named Vinicius and Tom by popular public vote:

The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Mascots have been named Vinicius and Tom respectively through popular voting in which a total of 323,327 votes were cast. Vinicius and Tom were chosen over the other two short-listed pairs of names – Oba and Eba as well as Tiba Tuque and Esquindim.

Vinicius the Rio 2016 Olympic Games mascot represents all the different animals in Brazil.

                            The above is an image of the Olympics mascot Vinicius

The Olympic mascot combines the agility of the cats, the sway of the monkeys and the grace of birds and is a mixture of different animals. It lives its life by playing, jumping, running and smiling and it can stretch its arms and legs as much as it wants and has a very acute sense of smell and great powers of hearing. As a mixture of Brazilian animals, it can also do the same things they can – like run faster, jump higher and be stronger. It is also able to imitate the voice of any animal, as such it is super-communicative.

Vinicius plays all the Olympic sports and its favourite pastime is making new friends and acquaintances. Its best friend is the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Mascot – Tom.

Vinicius lives in a tree-house in the Tijuca Forest, from where it can see the whole city and plan animal adventures.

The mascot’s mission is to spread joy throughout the World and celebrate the friendship that flourishes among people from all over the world at this super sports event.

       The above is an image of the Paralympics mascot Tom

The Paralympic mascot is a unique combination of Brazilian flora. It is able to pull crazy objects out of his head of leaves in order to get out of any difficult situation. It knows all the secrets of nature and understands that with creativity, intelligence and determination, one can achieve whatever one wants. It plays all the Paralympic sports and loves Samba and all kinds of Brazilian music.

The mascot’s mission is to inspire everybody to use creativity and determination to always reach further and have fun.

  The above is an image of Vinicius and Tom together as best friends.

Personalised Identity Cards:

Both Vinicius and Tom have been given their own ID Cards for the Games:

The above is an image of Vinicius’s ID Card. It says “JOGOS OlIMPICOS RIO 2016”. NOME: “VINICIUS”; NATURALIDADE: “RIO DE JANEIRO”; NACIONALIDADE: “BRASILEIRO”; DATA DE NASCIMENTO: “02/10/2009”. ASSINATURA DO TITULAR: “Vinicius”; At the lower periphery is mentioned “CARTEIRA DE IDENTIDADE”.

The above is an image of Tom’s ID Card. It says “JOGOS OlIMPICOS RIO 2016”. NOME: “TOM”; NATURALIDADE: “RIO DE JANEIRO”; NACIONALIDADE: “BRASILEIRO”; DATA DE NASCIMENTO: “02/10/2009”. ASSINATURA DO TITULAR: “Tom”. At the lower periphery is mentioned “CARTEIRA DE IDENTIDADE”.

                               The mascots Vinicius and Tom with their ID Cards.

The inspiration for the names of the mascots:

Vinicius is named after Brazilian musician Vinicius de Moraes.

Marcus Vinicius da Cruz e Mello Moraes – 19.10.1913 -09.07.1980:  – nicknamed “O Poetinha” meaning “the little poet” was a Brazilian poet, lyricist, essayist and playwright who wrote the lyrics for many classic Brazilian songs and became a seminal figure in modern Brazilian music. He wrote a number of plays, served as a national diplomat, composed his own Bossa Nova music and as an interpreter of his own lyrics, recorded several significant albums.

Tom is named after Brazilian musician Tom Jobim.

Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim – 25.01.1927 – 08.12.1994: – nicknamed Tom Jobim was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer and pianist/guitarist. He was the primary force behind the creation of the Bossa Nova style and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists in Brazil and internationally. Jobim has left a large number of songs that are now included in jazz and pop standard repertoires.

 They were both a part of the group that created Bossa Nova style, the musical movement that got the whole world singing about the beauty of Rio de Janeiro. The names of both Vinicius and Tom are recognised world-wide as a synonym for excellence.  Together De Moraes and Jobim wrote the song “The Girl from Ipanema” which is one of the most recorded/played songs of all time, having been recorded over 240 times by other artists.

Series of Commemorative Coins issued for the Rio 2016 Games being brought out by Banco Central do Brasil (or the Central Bank of Brazil):

The Central Bank of Brasil is bringing out a Series of Commemorative Coins for the Rio Olympics and Paralympics Games 2016.

By 2016, a total of 36 coins will be released, minted by the Casa de Moeda do Brazil (the Brazilian Mint). The coins will be released in 4 phases or Series. The minting of these coins is being coordinated by the Banco do Brasil and Casa da Moneda (the Brazilian Mint) with technical support of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.

Each of the Series is scheduled to feature the same breakdown of coins One Gold, Four silver and four circulating coins.

The above is an image of all the 4 Gold coins of 10 Real each which are going to be released by 2016.

On the one face of all these coins which will be released one each in everyone of the four Series being issued by the Central Bank of Brazil, will show the denomination of the Coins 10 Reais on one face along with iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer while on the  Obverses of the first three Gold coins are depicted specific sports representing the Olympic motto – “Citius, Altius Fortius” (meaning “Faster, Higher, Stronger”). The final coin will show a stylised 2016 Rio Olympic torch.  

Notice that the first coin shows the year of issue as 2014, while the second and third coins show the year of issue as 2015 which have already been released for Collectors, while the coin depicted last row will be released in 2016.

The above is an image of all the 16 silver coins of 5 Real each which are going to be released by 2016. The 4 silver coins in each Series will show the denomination of the Coins 5 Reais on one face and many versions representing different aspects of Rio and Olympic Sports on the other.

Notice that the coins in the first horizontal row show the year of issue as 2014, while rows two and three show the year of issue as 2015 which have already been released for circulation, while the coins depicted in the last row will be released in 2016.

The above is an image of all the 16 circulating coins of 1 Real each which are going to be released by 2016. The 4 circulating coins in each Series will show the denomination of the Coins one Real on one face and an Olympic Sport on the other.

Notice that the coins in the first vertical row shows the year of issue as 2014, while vertical rows two and three show the year of issue as 2015 which have already been released for collectors, while the coins depicted in the last row will be released in 2016.

“Banco Central do Brasil” (or the Central Bank of Brazil) began issuing the first series of 2016 Rio Olympic coins in the second half of November 2014. So far three Series of coins totalling 27 coins in all have been released.

The specifications of these coins are:

Gold coin: Denomination: 10 Reais; Fineness: 900/1000 Gold; Diameter: 16.00 mm; Weight: 4.40 gms; Edge: Serrated; Quality: Proof; Mintage: 5000 pieces each (in each release); Price: 1180 Reais.

Silver coins: Denomination: 5 Reais; Fineness: 925/1000 Silver; Diameter: 40 mm; Weight: 27gms; Edge: Serrated; Quality: Proof; Mintage: 25000 each (in each release); Price: 195 Reais;

Circulation Coins: Denomination: 1 Real; Metal Composition: Stainless steel (inner part) and brass plated steel (Outer Part); Diameter: 27 mm; Weight: 7 gms; Edge: Serrated. Quality: Circulation/ordinary; Mintage: 20 million each (in each release). For Collectors: Maximum of 200 each in Blister packs (in each release) Price: (per Blister Pack) 13 Reais.

Over 320 million coins will be produced in the 36 different designs – four Gold, Sixteen silver, and sixteen coins for general circulation. The fourth and final batch of coins will be released in February 2016.

Detailed description of some of the 2014 issues:

The first series of nine commemorative coins for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics Games in Rio de Janiero include four silver 5-Real coins.

Each coin celebrates one aspect of Brazil’s flora, fauna, architecture and music. Various aspects of the culture and nature of Rio de Janiero and Brazil are shown on the coins including the beak of a toucan, a heliconia flower, the musical genres of Chorinho and Bossa Nova, and architectural landmarks such as Arcos de Lapa and the Museum of Contemporary art. The Reverses of the coins depict various Olympic sports like running, cycling and beach volley-ball.

The gold coin commemorates, Christ the Redeemer on one face and the 100 metres race (one of the Olympic sports) on the other.

                2014  Rio 2016 Olympic Silver coins
The silver coins commemorate Rio de Janeiro – the Obverse with known landscapes where Cariocas, the inhabitants of Rio, play sports such as rowing, cycling and beach volleyball. The reverse, with aspects of the culture and nature of the city and Brazil. Franciscana Dolphin, Bromeliad, arches of Lapa and Bossa Nova inaugurate the four thematic series – Fauna, Flora, Architecture and Music respectively. The Olympic and Paralympics sports are the highlight of these coins. In the first Series, Athletics and Swimming represent two of the sports in which Brazil had won more medals in Olympic Games; Golf and Para triathlon, the two sports which will become part of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The circulating currency has a face value of 1 Real (BRL) and is being sold in special packages for collectors at a price of BRL 13. Both the Olympic and Paralympic Games are shown on these coins including Basketball and sailing, two sports in which Brazilian athletes have won medals in and Rugby and Para canoeing – two  new sports that will be a part of these Games from 2016 onwards.

The third and latest release of coins on 06.08.2015:

With one year left to the Rio Olympic Games 2016, the third batch of coins and were unveiled on Thursday 06.08.2015.

On the nine coins released – one gold, four silver and four for general circulation.

On the circulation coins released – Volleyball, Judo, Football and a Paralympic Sport – Athletics - have featured.

There are Gold and silver coins which are special collector’s items, bearing exclusive designs. Each of them combines an outdoor sport being practiced in front of a famous Rio landmark – rowing on Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, running in Flamengo Park, Cycling at Vista Chinesa, and playing beach volleyball at Copacabana – with a Brazilian cultural icon (one for fauna, flora, architecture and music) on the other face – a mico-leao dourado (a variety of Brazilian monkey), an orchid, the Sambodromo and Forro (a musical and dance style from the North-East of Brazil).

                       Gold coin released in August 2015
The Gold coin has the motif of Christ the Redeemer on one face and Olympic wrestling, which is one of the sports that represents the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Taller, Stronger”).

                       Silver coins released in August 2015
The silver coins represent the landscapes where locals from Rio practice sports like rowing, running, cycling and beach volleyball. On the Reverse there are images related to the country’s culture and nature: golden lion tamarind, orchid, sambadrome and forro. They provide continuity to the four thematic series: Brazilian Fauna, Flora, Architecture and Music.

                   Circulation coins released in August 2015.
The circulation coins represent sports like football, volleyball, judo, and Paralympic athletics.

The First and second Release of Postage stamps for Rio 2015:

The first Rio 2015 stamps were released on 24^th March 2015 as a part of the “500 days until the Olympic Games” event. Rio 2016, in partnership with the Brazilian Post Office, unveiled 10 designs that feature 9 Olympic sports – Rugby, Weightlifting, Rowing, Aquatics, Archery, Cycling, Badminton and Wrestling – and Paralympic Athletics.

Stamps released in March 2015. The  printed sheet of two stamps each on 10 Olympic and Paralympic Sports

Another printed sheet of two stamps each on another 10 Olympic and Paralympic sports titled “Serie Modalidades Jogos Olimpicos e Paralimpicos – Rio 2016”.

On 06.08.2015, with one year left for the Rio Olympics, the third set of commemorative coins and the second issue of stamps of the Series “Sports of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games” were released.

This set includes twenty stamps portraying ten sports: Boxing, Canoeing, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Paralympic – Judo.

The designs show athletes from each sport in motion and the background is formed by the Rio 2016 visual identity or “Look of the Games” – with the pattern becoming more clear when a complete sheet of stamps is viewed.

Using digital and traditional techniques, the stamps have been created by Brazilian graphic designer and illustrator Jose Carlos Braga.

There will be 2.4 million stamps in circulation, each with a value of 1.30/1.40 Brazilian Reais available at Brazilian Post Offices and authorised dealers.

Links to some other interesting posts on South American countries & Mexico:

1) The Travels of a silver Mexican Peso struck in 1898 and restruck in 1949 for the Chinese Government

2) Brazilian Currency: Brazilian Real

3) The 31st Summer Olympics 2015 or Rio-2016 - Brazil

4) Currency and Coinage of Guatemala

5) Currency and Coinage of the Republic of Chile (Part I)

6) Currency and Coinage of the Republic of Chile (Part II)

7) Banknotes and Coinage of Colombia (Part I)

8) Banknotes and Coinage of Colombia (Part II)

9) Currency and Coinage of Mexico - Pesos and Centavos (Part I)

10) Currency and Coinage of Mexico - Pesos and Centavos (Part II)

11) Evita or Eva Peron - A Commemorative/Circulating 100 Pesos Banknote issued on her in 2012

12) Currency and Coinage of Peru: Nuevo Sol and Centavo (Part I)

13) Currency and Coinage of Peru: Nuevo Sol and Centavo (Part II)

14) Currency and Coinage of Peru: Nuevo Sol and Centavo (Part III)


15) 2014 FIFA World Cup held at Brazil