Owner Comments:
SERIES/TITLE: SPORTS
FACE VALUE: 30,000 WON
METAL: Ag .999
WEIGHT IN FINENESS (g): 14.0
DIAMETER (mm): 36.0
ALIGNMENT: MEDAL
STRIKE: PROOF
EDGE: REEDED
DECORATIVE ELEMENT: N/A
MINTAGE: 10,000
YEAR/DATE OF ISSUE: September 26, 2019
DESINERS: N/A
ENGRAVERS: N/A
FROM THE BANK OF KOREA: The Bank of Korea has decided to issue the 18th FINA World Championships Gwangju 2019 Commemorative Coins and the 100th National Sports Festival Commemorative Coins on July 3 and September 26, respectively, to commemorate the hosting of these events.
OBVERSE: (Orientation of the coin is as a diamond, representing a baseball infield or diamond) Center, are depicted scenes of male and female athletes participating in selected representative sports, those played at the first National Sports Festival to feature multiple games in 1925. At the top of the coin is the inscription 제100회/ 전국체육대회 (100th National Sports Festival). On the lower right side near the rim is inscribed 2019/ 한국은행 / 삼만원 (Year of issue / Bank of Korea / 30,000 Won).
REVERSE: : (Orientation of the coin is as a diamond, representing a baseball infield or diamond)Center, is depicted the emblem for The 100th National Sports Festival held in Seoul. At the top of the reverse running in a semicircle around the logo is inscribed ‘The 100th National Sports Festival’. At the bottom of the reverse running in is inscribed ‘THE BANK OF KOREA / 30000 WON / 2019’ (issuing party / denomination / year of issue).
NOTES: 90% of the mintage was held for domestic sales while the other 10% was distributed by KOMSCO for international distribution.
This is the first noncircular planchet used in the series, while it could be called square the design orientation is so that the coin is diamond shaped. This is also the largest diameter planchet used to date measuring at 36mm.
The first National Sports Festival was held in 1920 and baseball was the only competitive sport played. The number of sports was increased to five beginning with the 5th Festival in 1925 (Baseball, Tennis, Soccer, Basketball and Track) which are the five sports depicted on the coins obverse. The National Sports Festival is an annual event but has been suspended on several occasions, including from 1938 - 1945 (WWII) and 1950 (The Korean War). This coin was released to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Sports Festival not the 100th games played.
The logo for the 100th anniversary was designed to commemorate and celebrate the participatory atmosphere of the citizens of Korea. The number 100 was designed as a double lane track and Mobius strip to symbolize the unlimited advancement of Korean sports and the harmonious partnership between hosts and participating athletes. The S-shaped torch represents the vibrant history, tradition and culture of Seoul and everyone's brilliantly burning wish for the success of the sports festival.