USSR Coins 1 Rouble 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Olympic torch
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. 1 Rouble”
Artist: S. M. Ivanov, modeler.
Reverse: Torch of Moscow 1980 Olympic Games & Main Building of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Spasskaya Tower (Moscow Kremlin), Saint Basil's Cathedral (Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat) at left and Borovitskaya Tower (Moscow Kremlin), Kremlin Palace of Congresses, Ostankino Tower (Ostankino television and radio tower in Moscow) and Secretariat Building Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) in Moscow at right, the Olympic emblem and the legend, in Cyrillic script, meaning: “The XXII Olympiad Moscow 1980” and the year 1980.
Artist: V. A. Ermakov.
Edge: Milled.
Mintage: (Proof) 509,500.
Mintage: (Uncirculated) 4,490,500.
Diameter: 31 mm.
Weight: 12.8 grams.
Thickness: 2.3 mm.
Composition: Cupronickel.
Mint Mark: Leningrad Mint’s mintmark.
Struck by Leningrad Mint.
Torch of Moscow 1980 Olympic Games The most important feature of the relay was the torch. Work on it was begun in 1978. It was first proposed to use pyrotechnic components as fuel for the torch. However tests had shown that the high burning temperature and the build-up of waste called for great care in the use of the torch. This first proposition was only used in the creation of a variant of the torch which was to be carried around the stadiums (20 of this type were produced). In general it was decided to use liquid gas (a propane-butane mix) as a fuel, for this could guarantee a regular flame and an optimum weight along with complete safety for the runner. A group of Leningrad engineers under the direction of Boris Tuchin constructed a model torch over a very short period of time. After full testing it was recommended for series production. The torch of the Moscow Olympics, in its construction and its outside appearance, did not resemble its predecessors. Its basic elements comprised a burner section, a ringed cup and protective screen, made from an aluminium alloy, along with the torch handle containing the gas reservoir. The cup and the screen were golden yellow while the burner section and the handle were of a silvery shade. The protective cover carried the official emblem of the Games of the XXII Olympiad while on the burner section was inscribed "Moscow- Olympiad-80". Dimensions of the torch: length- 565 mm, minimum diameter-27 mm, maximum diameter - 100 mm. Weight with full gas reservoir - 700 g, burning time-8-10 min. Leningrad enterprises provided the relay with 6,200 torches and the same number of gas reservoirs. The torch was registered as an invention at the State Registry of Inventions of the USSR, inventor's certificate No. 729414 was given the group which had created the torch by the USSR State Committee on Inventions and Discoveries. In order to guarantee the preservation of the flame lit at Olympia, it was kept in the special lamps. The OCOG- 80 decided not to use a miners lamp for this purpose as the organisers of the previous Games had done. The same group of Leningrad scientists worked on a special lamp for the spare flame. By May 1979 the model had undergone the test successfully. The lamp for the spare flame was of a simple design and trouble-free. It could burn without a break for 48 hours. It was fueled either by kerosene or by liquified gas. During the relay the lamp was carried in a special escort vehicle. The technical means which were used to deliver the Olympic flame to Moscow also included the cups for the ceremonial greeting of the flame along the route of the relay. These cups guaranteed a steady burning of the flame over longer periods of time and were also used for the ritual handing over of the Olympic flame for safekeeping to the place where the relay stayed overnight. A group of Moscow engineers under the direction of Alexandre Sergeev worked on two variants of the cup-a Small Cup (diameter 240 mm) and a Large Cup (diameter 750 mm). The fuel for both was a mixture based on dry spirit. The Large Cup was collapsible which allowed it to be assembled or taken apart quickly and to be transported over any distance. Around the burner of the Large Cup the words "Olympia-Athens-Sofia- Bucharest-Moscow" were worked in metal. Twelve of the Large Cups were manufactured by Moscow enterprises. Some of these were sent to the NOCs of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and to the Olympic cities of Tallinn, Leningrad, Kiev and Minsk. The rest were used during the course of the relay. Fifty of the Small Cups were handed over to the republican and region organising committees on the territory of the USSR.
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 1980 Olympic torch 1 Rouble 1978 Moscow Kremlin
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