Coins - Young Collectors Edition Coin Sets - 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games - Series 3 - Swimming

In 1996, the United States Mint continued the coin sets for the Young Collectors Olympic Games Series recognizing the Centennial Olympics held in Atlanta in 1996. The third of the Olympic coin sets included a clad half dollar for swimming.

The coin set package - six inches by six inches by 1/4 inch -  is made with an outer sleeve constructed of card stock printed in color and an inner package, also of color card stock, folded to protect the coin and provide several surfaces on which to share information about the Olympic Games and the commemorative coins.

On the front of the package, Jeremiah and Christina get ready to jump into the pool for swim heat. In the upper right with the spectators, Charlie, their dog, watches.

The title of the package states, "Young Collector's Edition Series #3" at the top with "U.S. Olympic Coins of the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games" near the bottom.   

The back of the outer package shows the people in the stands holding the Certificate of Authenticity on a banner: 

Certificate of Authenticity
U.S. Olympic Coins of the
Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games
1996 Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar Swimming Coin

This certifies that this coin is a genuine U.S. Olympic Coin of the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games struck in accordance with legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President on October 6, 1992, as Public Law 102-390. Produced by the United States Mint, this coin is legal tender of the United States.

Specifications for the Clad Half Dollar

Date: 1996
Mint: San Francisco
Condition: Uncirculated
Weight: 11.340 grams 
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters 
Composition: 92% copper, 8% nickel
Obverse Design: Swimming
Obverse Designer: William Krawczewicz
Reverse Design: Atlanta Logo
Reverse Designer: Malcolm Farley

Philip N. Diehl
Director of the Mint  

The front of the inner coin package looks similar to the outer package with the addition of a medal on a red, white and blue ribbon over the swimmers. 

Opened, the coin package, front and back, shows the Olympic swimming venue with spectators, judges and athletes.

The back states, "Motto: The Olympic motto is 'Citius, Altius, Fortius,' meaning 'Swifter, Higher, Stronger' in the upper left over the judges table. 

The unfolded coin package tells the story of Christina winning while Jeremiah still swims toward the pool's finish wall. 

This section includes:

One of the United States' Best Events

Competitive swimming has been in the Modern Olympic Games since the very first Games, in 1896. It has always been one of the United States' best sports. In fact, in the 1948 Olympic Games, our men's team swam away with a gold medal in every single event! 

Notice Izzy, the Atlanta Centennial Games' mascot, at the back corner of the pool.

The next block reads:

Commemorative Olympic Coins - A Rare Event

Coin collecting is a hobby with worldwide popularity. The U.S. Mint was founded in 1792 and is the largest mint in the world. Even though the U.S. Mint has been issuing coins for over 200 years, these mark only the fourth time ever that it has issued a set of Olympic coins. 

Below, this block shows the coin's reverse (tails) and states:

The Olympic Spirit

Olympic competitions are about testing the strength and skill of individuals, not nations. Therefore, the International Olympic Committee does not keep running scores on competing countries, and no nation "wins" the Olympic Games. 

On the side showing the coin's obverse (heads), the message reads:

How It's Done in the Olympic Games 

An Olympic competition pool is 50 meters long and at least eight lanes wide. Its water temperature is always kept between a comfortable 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Men and women will each be competing in 16 different swimming events in the 1996 Olympic Games.

The obverse of the commemorative swimming half dollar shows a swimmer coming out of the water on a breast stroke as the water bubbles around him. 

The reverse (tails) shows the Atlanta Centennial Games logo. 

These coin sets of the Atlanta Centennial Games provide information and history. Enjoy collecting these coins either as one of these coin sets or as a commemorative coin.