Pictured on the reverse design of the 1984 XXIII Olympiad Silver Dollar was a rendition of a bald eagle by Robert Graham. These coins were issued to help raise funds for the training of American athletes. This was the first of several Olympic coin programs in the United States.

A commemorative coin program was authorized in order to raise funds for the training of athletes in the XXIII Olympiad held in Los Angeles, California. The 1984 Olympic Silver Dollar featured a likeness of the sculpture placed in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. These coins were struck at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco in large quantities. The design is by Robert Graham.

President John F. Kennedy has been honored on the obverse design of the half dollar since 1964. The coins are now approaching their 50th anniversary. The Kennedy Half Dollar is currently no longer minted for circulation, but only produced to meet demand from collectors. The halves are sold in bags, rolls, or within numismatic sets.

The reverse design of the George Washington commemorative half dollar featured an image of his home at Mount Vernon. Designed by Elizabeth Jones, the heraldic bald eagle also appears within the image.

The United States Mint began a new era of commemorative coinage with the release of the 1982 George Washington Half Dollar. Struck in 90% silver, the obverse design features an image of George Washington on horseback. The inscriptions indicate “250th Anniversary of Birth” with the date “1982″. This was designed by Elizabeth Jones. The maximum mintage was 10 million pieces.

Will gold’s performance continue into the coming year? For eleven straight years, the price of gold has recorded an annual gain, leading to higher demand and attention for gold bullion coins. The United States Mint released the 2012 American Gold Eagle on January 3, 2012, with one ounce and three fractional weight sizes available. Later in the year collectible versions of the gold eagle will be released in the same four sizes. Collector and bullion investor demand will likely be swayed by price performance of the underlying metal.

After years of shortages and rationing, the United States Mint has finally seemed to catch up with demand for silver bullion with the release of the 2012 American Silver Eagle. The bullion versions of the coin were offered on January 3, 2012 with no order allocation in place. Additionally, the US Mint plans to release at least three different numismatic versions of the coin, including a proof with the “W” mint mark, uncirculated coin with the “W” mint mark, and uncirculated coin with the “S” mint mark.

Starting in 1965, there was significant change within United States coinage. The composition for most circulating denomination was changed from 90% silver to a copper nickel clad composition without precious metal content. All coins were struck without mint marks. The United States Mint did not offer traditional collector products such as proof sets and mint sets. Rather special mint sets were offered containing coins like the 1965 Washington Quarter shown above. These coins do not have typical proof surfaces, but are generally superior to circulation strikes.

The reverse design for the Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar depicts the first words of the Star-Spangled Banner anthem, O say can you see, in Francis Scott Key’s handwriting against a backdrop of 15 stars and 15 stripes, representing the Star-Spangled Banner flag.  Inscription are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM and FIVE DOLLARS.

The obverse design for the coin depicts Lady Liberty waving the 15-star, 15-stripe Star-Spangled Banner flag with Fort McHenry in the background. Inscriptions are LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and 1812 – 2012. The Star Spangled Banner Silver Dollar obverse was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.

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