LOOSE CHANGE: DECEMBER 29, 2019

Made From Recycled Electronics for 2020 Olympic Medals

Japan has once again impressively shown how innovative it is and how innovative even the production of Olympic medals can be. The Olympic medals to be awarded during the Olympic Games taking place in Tokyo next year will be made from recycled material from small electronic devices and mobile phones. According to the official "Tokyo 2020" website, which also reports on details of the medal project, collection points have been set up throughout Japan to collect almost 79,000 tonnes of "material" in total, from about 6.1 million used mobile phones. Approx. 32 kg gold, 3,500 kg silver and 2,200 kg bronze were extracted from this material stock to produce the medals.

The medal design shows Nike on the front. She is depicted from the front, striding towards the viewer. The background is the Athens Panathinaiko Stadium; the Olympic Stadium of the first Olympic Games of modern times in 1896. It was built on the foundations of an ancient stadium and marble was used for the most part, which is unique in the world and makes it a sight even today. The five Olympic rings are arranged above Nike and the inscription "Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020" can be read at the top.

To read the complete article, see:
Japanese Mint to use recycle materials from electronic devices on Olympic medals (http://blog.greysheet.com/japanese-mint-to-use-recycle-materials-from-electronic-devices-on-olympic-medals/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
TOKYO 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES MEDAL DESIGN (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n50a21.html)

Original 1892 Olympic Manifesto Sold

The original 127-year-old Olympic manifesto, which outlined the revival of the ancient Olympic games, has been auctioned off for $8.8 million, setting a new record for sports memorabilia.

On Wednesday in Sotheby's New York salesroom, three international bidders vied for the French-language document over just 12 minutes before the winning offer was made. The buyer has not been identified.

The sale breaks a record for sports memorabilia set in June, when a New York Yankees jersey worn by Babe Ruth sold for $5.6 million.

Written in 1892 by Pierre de Coubertin, a French aristocrat and educator, the manifesto lays out the concept for the modern games, which he saw as a way of encouraging human progress and sportsmanship.

The document, which is 14 pages long and the only known copy of the manifesto, was delivered as a speech at Sorbonne University in Paris in 1892 on the fifth anniversary of the formation of the French Athletics Association.

After forming the International Olympic Committee in 1894, Coubertin's vision came to life in 1896 as the first modern Olympic games took place in Athens.

To read the complete article, see:
Original 1892 Olympic manifesto, outlining the revival of the ancient games, sells for record $8.8million at auction - topping Babe Ruth's $5.6million Yankees jersey (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7810151/Original-1892-Olympic-manifesto-outlining-revival-ancient-games-sells-record-8-8million.html)

USPS Sued Over Religious-Themed Custom Stamps

The law firm First Liberty is suing the United States Postal Service (USPS), alleging that a rule prohibiting Americans from requesting custom stamps with religious content is unconstitutional.

USPS has allowed private citizens to ask vendors contracting with the post office to provide custom-designed stamps -- but not if they contain religious or inappropriate content.

"USPS offers its own version of a religious stamp, but, ironically, it will not allow religious Americans to personalize stamps containing an expression of their own religious beliefs for their own use," Dys said. The USPS has been offering stamps of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus.

To read the complete article, see:
USPS faces lawsuit for blocking private vendors from making stamps with religious content (https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/usps-lawsuit-stamps-religious-content)

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