2004 Olympic Games 10 Złotych

This Polish 10 Złotych coin from 2004 features a reverse design with the Olympic rings intertwined with a stylized flame, directly tying it to the Athens Games. That flame, etched with surprising detail for a commemorative issue, nods to the eternal torch relay without the usual hype.

Struck in 0.925 silver by the Warsaw Mint, it weighs 14.14 grams and measures 32 millimeters across. The obverse bears the standard Polish eagle, a motif that's appeared on countless issues since the interwar period. Not every Olympic coin gets this level of craftsmanship; some years, they phone it in.

Exact mintage numbers? Lost to time or poor record-keeping, as often happens with these events. If you're hunting one, check for the edge lettering—it's there, faintly.