Romania issued this coin for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, part of a broader series of circulation commemoratives produced in nickel plated steel rather than the silver used by wealthier issuing nations. The choice of base metal kept unit costs low enough for genuine mass distribution — these were not sold in mint sets at a premium but spent as everyday change across the country, at a time when Romania's economy was still grinding through post-communist transition.
KM#121 is one of several Olympic-themed denominations from this year, each depicting different athletic events. Collector demand has remained modest.
Romania issued this coin for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, part of a broader series of circulation commemoratives produced in nickel plated steel rather than the silver used by wealthier issuing nations. The choice of base metal kept unit costs low enough for genuine mass distribution — these were not sold in mint sets at a premium but spent as everyday change across the country, at a time when Romania's economy was still grinding through post-communist transition.
KM#121 is one of several Olympic-themed denominations from this year, each depicting different athletic events. Collector demand has remained modest.