Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 500 Forint 1987, KM# 660, Hungary, Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics, Wrestling
  • 500 Forint 1987, KM# 660, Hungary, Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics, Wrestling
Description

The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad and commonly known as Seoul 1988 was an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. 159 nations were represented at the games by a total of 8,391 athletes (6,197 men and 2,194 women). 237 events were held and 27,221 volunteers helped to prepare the Olympics.

The 1988 Seoul Olympics were the second summer Olympic Games held in Asia and the first held in South Korea. As the host country, South Korea ranked fourth overall, winning 12 gold medals and 33 medals in the competition. 11,331 media (4,978 written press and 6,353 broadcasters) showed the Games all over the world. These were the last Olympic Games of the Cold War, as well as for the Soviet Union and East Germany, as both ceased to exist before the next Olympic Games in 1992. The Soviet Union dominated the medal count, winning 55 gold and 132 total medals. The results that got closest to that medal haul are China's 48 gold medals in 2008 and the USA's 121 total medals in 2016.

Engraver: László Kutas

Obverse

Depicts two antique wrestlers, the inscription"SUMMER OLYMPICS SEOUL 1988" below, and the engraver's name on the bottom.

Wrestling made its debut at the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896 in the Greco-Roman style, held in Athens. Since then, wrestling has been a consistent presence at every subsequent Summer Olympics, except for the 1900 edition where it was omitted. Freestyle wrestling and weight classes were introduced for the first time at the 1904 Summer Olympics.

NYÁRI OLIMPIA
SZÖUL 1988
KUTAS

Reverse

Depicts the denomination in the center, dividing the issue year, the mintmark (BP), and the country name (Hungarian People's Republic) on top, and the engraver's name on the bottom.

BP.
MAGYAR
NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG
500
19 FORINT 87
KUTAS

Edge

500 Forint

People's Republic
KM# 660 Schön# 159 Adamo# EM99
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.900
Weight 28 g
Diameter 40 mm
Thickness 2.7 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

Related coins

Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics

Silver, 17.5 g, ⌀ 36.5 mm

Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics

Silver, 17.5 g, ⌀ 36.5 mm

Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics

Gold, 8.5 g, ⌀ 24 mm