200 Roubles Luge

Issued as part of Russia's extended numismatic buildup to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, this piece appeared five years before the Games themselves — an unusually long lead time reflecting the Bank of Russia's aggressive commemorative program that ultimately produced dozens of Olympic issues across multiple series. Luge had particular resonance for the Sochi program given that the Sanki Sliding Center was one of the most expensive single venues in Olympic construction history, running well over a billion dollars by completion.