200 Escudos 1972 Portugal

This 200 Escudos coin from 1972 features a reverse design with a torchbearer, directly alluding to the Munich Olympics' flame-lighting ceremony.

That design element, etched by Portuguese engraver José Rodrigues, nods to the games' international spirit while incorporating national symbols like the coat of arms on the obverse. Struck in silver, it weighs 25 grams and has a diameter of 35 millimeters, typical for commemoratives of the era. Mintage figures are uncertain; official records from the Lisbon Mint during that period are spotty at best.

The coin's edge is reeded, a practical choice to deter clipping in circulation, though few saw much use beyond collections. Portugal issued it amid economic shifts under the Estado Novo regime, blending propaganda with global events. As for its survival, many examples show wear from improper storage, a common fate for silver coins left in attics.

One might quip that commemorating the Olympics on a coin is like running a marathon on a treadmill—plenty of effort, but you're not going anywhere.