1996 Commemorative Coins from the United States Mint. The two year Centennial Olympic Games Commemorative Coin Program continued for the second year with another eight designs across half dollar, silver dollar, and $5 gold denominations. Additional programs included the National Community Service and 150th Anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution. Between the programs, there were a total of eleven different designs for collectors.
The 1996 Smithsonian $5 Gold Coin was issued for the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution. It had been established by Congress on August 10, 1846, funded by the will of scientist James Smithson. At one time, the Smithsonian held the National Numismatic Collection.
The obverse of the coin features a bust of James Smithson designed [...]
The 1996 Smithsonian 150th Anniversary Silver Dollar was issued to commemorate the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution by Congress on August 10, 1846. As a point of interest to collectors, at the time of issue the Smithsonian held the National Numismatic Collection, which contains over one million items.
The obverse of the Smithsonian Silver Dollar depicts [...]
The 1996 National Community Service Silver Dollar was issued to honor the spirit of volunteerism in the United States. The coins were released at a time when the number of commemorative coin issues had dramatically increased, creating a backlash from collectors. This same year, Congress passed a new law stipulating that after the previously approved [...]
The 1996 Olympic Cauldron $5 Gold Coin was issued as one of the coins of the expansive commemorative coin program for the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. The program included a total of sixteen different coin designs issued in compositions of gold, silver, and copper nickel clad. The overwhelming scope of the program [...]
The 1996 Olympic Flag Bearer $5 Gold Coin was issued as one of sixteen different coins which comprised the XXVI Olympiad Commemorative Coin Program. The Centennial Olympic Games were held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. Coins were issued in gold, silver, and copper nickel clad compositions.
The Olympic Flag Bearer $5 Gold Coin features athletes from [...]
The 1996 Olympic High Jump Silver Dollar was as a slate of sixteen different coins to commemorate the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. The program included coins minted in copper nickel clad, silver, and gold, released from 1995 to 1996.
Th obverse of the High Jump Silver Dollar features an athlete executing a high [...]
The 1996 Olympic Rowing Silver Dollar was issued as part of an extensive program of commemorative coins for the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. The program included sixteen coins minted in clad, silver, and gold, released over the course of two years.
The obverse of the Rowing Silver Dollar features four men rowing as [...]
The 1996 Paralympics Silver Dollar was issued was part of an extensive program of commemorative coins for the XXVI Olympiad held in Atlanta, Georgia. There were a total of sixteen different coins issued for the program over the course of two years.
The obverse of the 1996 Paralympics Silver Dollar features an athlete in a wheelchair [...]
The 1996 Olympic Tennis Silver Dollar was issued in commemoration of the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta, Georgia. It was part of an extensive program, which included a total of sixteen different coins struck in clad, silver, and gold, and released over the course of two years.
The obverse of the Tennis Silver Dollar features a woman [...]
The 1996 Olympic Soccer Half Dollar was one of four different commemorative half dollar coins issued for the Atlanta XXVI Olympiad Summer Games. The program also included eight different silver dollars and four different $5 gold coins. The large number of coins began to discourage some collectors from commemorative coin collecting.
The obverse of the Soccer [...]
The 1996 Olympic Swimming Half Dollar continued the expansive commemorative coin program for the XXVI Olympiad Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. The program included a total of 16 different coins issued over the course of two years.
The obverse design of the Swimming Half Dollar was designed by William Krawczewicz. The inscriptions include “Liberty” and “In [...]