In August, 11th, the Banco Central do Brasil (Brazil’s Central Bank) issued two commemorative coins to celebrate the Olympic flag handover to Brazil, in a ceremony promoted by the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, at Somerset House, London, where Casa Brasil (Brazil House) is located. The event was a result of an agreement signed by Banco Central, Casa da Moeda do Brasil (the Brazilian mint) and Rio 2016™.

A special edition of 2,016,000 bimetalic circulating coins were minted. Their reverse keeps the design of the ordinary 1-real circulating coins: elements of the Brazilian flag. The obverse shows the Olympic flag and the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games emblem. Up to 80,000 units out of this mintage will be sold in special packages for collectors.

A silver coin of R$5 denomination with a mintage limit of 20,000 units were also minted. The obverse shows the Olympic flag and the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games emblem. The reverse presents the illustration of two icons of the Olympic cities: Tower Bridge, representing London, and the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, representing Rio de Janeiro.

The commemorative coins can be acquired at the Banco Central do Brasil Regional Offices and through Banco do Brasil’s website. For further information, visit www.bcb.gov.br.

Francisco Franco, President of the Casa da Moeda do Brasil; Leonardo Gryner, Director of the Rio 2016™; and João Sidney de Figueiredo Filho, chief of the Banco Central do Brasil (Photo: Wander Roberto/Rio2016™)

Characteristics

Bimetalic coin

Face value: 1 real

Composition: Stainless steel (inner part) and bronze plated steel (outer part)

Diameter: 27mm

Weight: 7g

Mintage limit: 2,016,000 coins

Price (in special package): R$9,50

Silver coin

Face value: 5 reais

Composition: silver 925/1000

Diameter: 40mm

Weight: 27g

Finish: proof

Initial mintage: 5,000 coins

Mintage limit: 20,000 coins

Price: R$195,00