In circulation since last November, the Rio 2016 commemorative coins have already sparked an unprecedented collecting craze in Brazil. Now fans have even more reason to be excited, as the second batch has been released on the market. With 80 million units, the latest circulation coins have introduced three more Olympic sports to the collection – basketball, rugby and sailing – and one more Paralympic sport – canoeing. There are also gold and silver coins, which are special collectors’ items, bearing exclusive designs.

 “We are very proud  to see how the Brazilian public have reacted to the coins,” said Sylmara Multini, Rio 2016’s licensing director. “Coin collecting is not a common pursuit in Brazil, but we hope this will be a legacy for the country. The commemorative coins are a traditional aspect of the Games, and a good way to engage the public with the event.”

The choice of basketball and sailing reflects the fact that these are the two sports in which Brazil has won the most Olympic medals. Meanwhile, coins depicting rugby sevens and paracanoe have  been minted to mark the debut of these two sports at the Rio 2016 Games.

In addition to the coins for common circulation, which are worth one Brazilian real, collectors can purchase four silver coins, which are worth five reals. Each of them depicts a sport being practised in front of a famous Rio landmark, with a Brazilian cultural icon on their opposite side. The combinations are: running in front of Sugarloaf mountain with the Contemporary Art Museum designed Oscar Niemeyer; beach volleyball on Copacabana beach with Brazilian chorinho musicians; cycling past the Vista Chinesa monument with a toucan; and rowing under the gaze of Christ the Redeemer with the tropical helicônia flower. There is also one gold collectors’ coin, worth 10 reals, depicting Christ the Redeemer statue with a pole vaulter on the other side.

See the coin designs below:

The second batch of circulation coins introduce four new sports to the collection

The silver collectors' coins feature sporting scenes and Brazilian cultural icons

The gold collectors' coin features the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger

An Olympic tradition since the ancient Games, the commemorative coins have been formally organised as collectors’ items since the Helsinki 1952 Games. The Rio 2016 Games edition, the first coin collection package in Brazilian history, where developed by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee in partnership the Brazilian Mint and the Central Bank of Brazil.

The next batches of coins are scheduled to be launched in August 2015 and February 2016. In total more than 320 million coins will be produced, with 36 different models – four gold, 16 silver and 16 for common circulation.