Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 5 Pounds 1988, KM# 626, Egypt, Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics
  • 5 Pounds 1988, KM# 626, Egypt, Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics
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.

Obverse

Depicts god Sobek with a stick and above it a crocodile behind it three ancient figures play with racket, dates (1408-1988) with Seoul city below.

Sobek (also called Sobki) was an ancient Egyptian deity with a complex and elastic history and nature. He is associated with the Nile crocodile or the West African crocodile and is represented either in its form or as a human with a crocodile head. Sobek was also associated with pharaonic power, fertility, and military prowess, but served additionally as a protective deity with apotropaic qualities, invoked especially for protection against the dangers presented by the Nile. Sobek has been famed for having been revered by the first female Pharao by the Nebty name Sat-Sekhem-Nebet-Tawy Sobekneferu, present both in the female Pharao's nomen, Sobek'Neferu (sbk-nfrw - Beauty of Sobek), and her praenomen Ka'Sobek'Re (The Ka of Sobek-Ra).

الالعاب الاولمبيه
٢٤
١٩٨٨ سيول ١٤٠٨

Reverse

Calligraphic art state name "Arab Republic of Egypt" in the center divided denomination in Arabic and English, abbreviation of state name "A R E" with the inscription "The 25th Olympic Games in Los Angeles". Date in Gregorian below.

1988
٥
جـ
5 LE
جمهورية مصر العربية
ARE
THE 24TH SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.720
Weight 17.5 g
Diameter 36.5 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal

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