16.10 Russia to Issue Commemorative Olympic Torch Relay Coin

MOSCOW, October 16 (R-Sport) � Russia's Central Bank said Wednesday it is to issue a commemorative coin for the Sochi 2014 Olympic torch relay later this month.

The coin will be in a currently unused denomination of 25 rubles ($0.78) and will go into wide circulation from October 30, with up to 20 million examples to be issued.

The coins are part of a wider program of coinage to celebrate the Olympics, which run from February 7 to 23 in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

The Central Bank plans to issue a total of 38 designs for collectors and nine for public use, amounting to 50 million coins in all.

The Sochi 2014 torch relay is the longest in history, taking in nearly 3,000 towns and cities along its record 65,000-kilometer route.

The relay ends February 7 at the opening ceremony for Russia's first Winter Games.