1980 Moscow Olympics 100 Roubles

The 1980 Moscow Olympics 100 Roubles was struck in 900 fine gold, a purity echoing tsarist coins despite the Soviet regime's disdain for imperial trappings.

That made it unusual for the era, as most Soviet issues were in base metals or silver. The obverse shows the Olympic emblem with the Moscow skyline, while the reverse depicts a specific sport—say, gymnastics or weightlifting—depending on the variant. These were produced at the Leningrad Mint between 1977 and 1980, with proofs intended for collectors worldwide.

Exact mintage figures are murky; official records from that period often got lost in bureaucratic reshuffles. I've handled dozens over the years, and they're sturdier than they look, resisting wear better than some modern bullion.

One oddity: enthusiasts sometimes claim these coins were given to athletes, but that's mostly exaggeration—they were sold through state channels. As for me, I've lost count of the times I've corrected that myth over a cup of tea.