USSR 150 Rubles Platinum Coin 1979 Ancient Greek wrestlers 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow
Commemorative issue: Games of the 22nd Olympiad in Moscow.
Obverse Design: The USSR’s emblem, the Red Star surrounding the globe, 15 turns of ribbon representing the 15 republics of the Union, the legend, in Cyrillic script, meaning: “U.S.S.R. 150 Roubles”.
Artist: S. M. Ivanov, modelers.
Reverse: Ancient Greek wrestlers (Greek statue from Uffizi museum in Florence, Italy), the Olympic emblem and the legend, meaning: “The XXII Olympiad Moscow 1980” and the year 1979.
Artist: V. A. Ermakov.
Edge: Milled.
Mintage: (Proof) 24,160.
Mintage: (Brilliant Uncirculated) 9,910.
Issue Price - Proof: $488 US, Brilliant Uncirculated: $465 US
Diameter: 28.6 mm.
Weight: 15.55 grams.
Thickness: 1.5 mm.
Composition: .9993 platinum.
Mint Mark: Leningrad and Moscow Mint’s Mintmark.
Struck by Leningrad Mint.
Ancient Greek wrestling
Greek wrestling was a grappling combat sport practiced by the Ancient Greeks. A wrestler's objective (aim, goal) was to throw his opponent to the ground from a standing position. A point (or fall) was scored when a wrestler's back or shoulders touched the ground. Three points were needed to win a match. Holds were restricted to the upper body. Unlike modern wrestling, there were no weight divisions or time limits. As a result, the sport was dominated by large and strong men and boys who could defeat smaller but more skillful opponents.
Wrestling was taught and practiced in buildings called palaestras. These structures were built at public expense. Large cities sometimes had several palaestras. Wrestlers trained and competed in the nude. The sport was the first added to the Ancient Olympic Games that was not a footrace. Two ancient Greek wrestlers that are remembered today are Leontiskos of Messene and Milo of Croton. Leontiskos is infamous for winning the Olympics after breaking his opponent's fingers, and Milo is famous for winning five Olympic championships. Wrestling was a popular subject for Greek sculpture, painting, and literature.
Moscow-1980 Olympic Coins
The Moscow Olympics were the first Olympic games to be held in a socialist country. An Act of the Soviet government authorized the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of the USSR to issue a 28-coin collection of five and ten roubles in proof and uncirculated qualities. There was also six proof and six uncirculated gold 100 roubles, five proof and five uncirculated platinum 150 roubles, and six proof and six uncirculated 1 rouble coins.
1 Rouble 1979 University of Moscow 1 Rouble 1980 Monument of Yuri Dolgorukiy 1 Rouble 1979 Monument to the Conquerors of Space
Geographic Series
Silver 5 Rubles 1977 Tallinn Silver 5 Rubles 1977 Minsk Silver 5 Rubles 1977 Kiev Silver 5 Rubles 1977 Leningrad Silver 10 Rubles 1977 Moscow Kremlin
The Olympic motto is the hendiatris Citius, Altius, Fortius, which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger." The motto was proposed by Pierre de Coubertin on the creation of the International Olympic Committee in 1894.
Series – "Citius" Faster
Series – "Altius" Higher
Series – "Fortius" Stronger
Series – Sports and grace
Series – Folk sports
Olympic Gold Coins
Gold 100 Rubles 1977 Sport and Peace symbol Gold 100 Rubles 1980 Olympic Flame Gold 100 Rubles 1978 Central Lenin Stadium Gold 100 Rubles 1978 Krylatskoye Rowing Canal Gold 100 Rubles 1979 Druzhba Multipurpose Arena
Olympic Platinum Coins
Platinum 150 Rubles 1979 Chariot racing Platinum 150 Rubles 1978 Discobolus Platinum 150 Rubles 1979 Ancient Greek wrestlers