Coins - 1988 Prestige Set Certificate of Authenticity and Coin Specifications

The US Mint printed the Certificate of Authenticity for the 1988 Prestige Set on cream colored paper using dark red and black ink.

The paper is slightly smaller than a regular page of 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Information is printed on both sides with the paper folded in half before being added to the Prestige Set package.

The front of the certificate shows the Department of Treasury seal for the United States Mint printed in black. Just below the seal, "UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COINS," "Certificate of Authenticity" and "1988 PRESTIGE SET" are printed in dark red ink centered across the page.   

On the back of the folded certificate, the Mint recognized the artists who designed the obverse and reverse of the 1988 commemorative silver dollar coin recognizing the Olympic athletes and games.  

The information says:

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Artists for the 1988 Silver Dollar

Obverse: Patricia L. Verani

BORN: Plandome, Long Island, N.Y., 1927

EDUCATION: Boston Museum School of Fine Arts (Scholarship)

ACHIEVEMENTS: Won the Mrs. Louis Bennet bas relief prize in the National Sculpture Society Show, 1979. First prize in the Fighting Black Bear Competition of the University of Maine at Orono and executed an eight-foot bronze statue. Currently has work on view at the Medallic Art Company, and the Nutfield commemorative coins in Londonderry, Windham, and Derry, N.H. In 1988 the Society of Medalists will issue her design, Snow and Sand.

MINT WORK INCLUDES: Designer of the 1987 silver dollar U.S. Constitution Coin.

Reverse: Sherl J. Winter
            Sculptor and Engraver, U.S. Mint

BORN: Dayton, Ohio, 1934

EDUCATION: Master of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 1959; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Barnes Foundation

ACHIEVEMENTS: Director of Sculpture, Mt. Everest Mint; teacher of sculpture; sculptural and medallic commissions.

MINT WORK INCLUDES: Reverse of the Statue of Liberty half dollar, Willa Cather gold medallion, reverse of Danny Thomas medal, and others.

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Click on the picture at left to access the purchase information for the 1988 Prestige set

Unfolded, the inside of the certificate provides a message from the Director of the Mint and details the coins' specifications - the commemorative silver dollar and the standard proof coins. 

The content includes:

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UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COINS
Certificate of Authenticity
1988 Prestige Set
INCLUDING THE 1988 U.S. OLYMPIC SILVER DOLLAR

The undersigned hereby certifies the Silver Dollar coin as a genuine United States Olympic Coin struck in accordance with legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President on October 28, 1987 into Public Law 100-141 (H.R. 2741). This historic collectible is produced by the United States Mint and is specially designed and created to commemorate America's participation in the 1988 Olympic Games. The coin is legal tender of the United States and contains 0.76 troy ounce of pure silver.

The other coins in the set are also legal tender.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR SILVER DOLLAR

Condition: Proof
Date: 1988
Mint: San Francisco
Diameter: 1.500 inches (±0.003 inch) 38.10mm (±0.08mm)
Fineness: 0.900 ±0.003 pure silver
Weight: 0.8594 troy ounce (±0.0129 troy ounce) 26.730 grams (±0.400 gram)
Composition: 90% silver, balance copper
Design:
   Obverse: Liberty's Torch and the Olympic Torch merging in a single flame, with the words "Olympiad" and "Liberty."
   Reverse: U.S. Olympic Team logo, frame by olive branches.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR AUTHENTIC 1988 PROOF COINS MINTED BY THE UNITED STATES MINT

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Click 1988 Prestige Set to view the contents of the Prestige Set package.

Click on the picture at left to access the purchase information for the 1988 Prestige set