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PHILATELIC PROGRAMMEFollowing a tradition that has been part of every modern Olympic Games since 1896, a series of commemorative postal stamps were also launched to mark Rio 2016. In total, three batches of stamps were released, featuring 31 different designs celebrating Olympic sports, the Olympic Torch, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and the official Games mascots. For the first time in Olympic history, stamps inscribed in Braille were also released in celebration of the Paralympic Games.COIN PROGRAMMECommemorative coins have also been a regular feature of Olympic Games memorabilia since Helsinki in 1952, and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee partnered with the Brazilian Central Bank to issue four batches of limited edition coins in the build up to the Games. In total, more than 320 million coins were produced, featuring 36 different designs depicting Olympic sports, Rio landmarks, Brazilian cultural icons and the official Games mascots. In addition, Rio 2016 and the Brazilian Mint released a series of souvenir medallions to commemorate the Games. Available in gold, silver, ‘golden bronze’, and bronze – and bearing designs of famous Rio landmarks, the Rio 2016 mascots and the torch relay – the medallions were priced from R$70 (US$21) to R$9,560 (US$2,817), with only 50 units produced of the rarest design, which featured the Olympic torch.320 MillionCommemorative coins produced2.5 MillionPairs of Rio 2016 flip-flops sold1.2 MillionMascot plush toys soldLICENSING AND MERCHANDISING115