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 Replies: 29 / Views: 16,188 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
I haven't seen many posts concerning the modern US gold commemoratives, so I thought I would pull one out of the bank and present it. First up, the 1984 gold eagle issued to mark the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles. It's a coin with several "firsts" and distinctions on its resume. The commemorative coin program for the Los Angeles Olympics included two silver dollar designs, one for 1983-dated coins and another for 1984-dated coins. Only one design was used for the $10 gold coin, with all coins bearing the date ‘1984'. It was the first US gold coin struck since 1933, and was the first gold commemorative coin issued since the 1926 quarter eagle for the sesquicentennial of American independence. The coin's design is the work of two artists, James M. Peed and John Mercanti. Peed is credited with the "Two Runners" design concept for the coin's obverse, with Mercanti responsible for executing Peed's concept and for creating the reverse design. The obverse design met with the most criticism when it was first revealed. The first draft of the design included two runners superimposed over the Olympic Rings. Some on the Commission of Fine Arts considered the design too busy and also wondered about potential criticisms based on the apparent race or ethnicity of the runners. The design was simplified via the removal of the Olympic symbol in the background and was modified to better present the runners and to distance them from the coin's date. The coin's reverse features a heraldic eagle design that, while attractive, has little to connect it to the Olympic Games or Los Angeles. The coin was struck in Proof and Uncirculated and at four different US Mint facilities. The West Point Bullion Depository struck both versions of the coin, while the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco mints each struck only proof coins; West Point would be designated as a 'Mint' in 1988. The coins struck at the West Point facility feature the ‘W' mintmark, the first US coins to do so. This coin is the only US commemorative coin - classic or modern - to be struck at four different US mint facilities. The coin is 27mm in diameter (just over an inch), is struck on 0.900 fine planchets and includes 0.484 troy ounces of gold. Interesting note, the planchets were produced outside of the Mint by Johnson Matthey Company. The original price for an uncirculated coin from West Point was $339.00, the price for the individual proof coins was $352.00. The coins were also packaged in a number of ways with the silver dollar issues. Enjoy! 1984 LA Olympics Gold Eagle - Obverse 1984 LA Olympics Gold Eagle - Reverse Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
14463 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
Thanks again commems for reminding me to satisfy the budding urge to acquire a few of these.  Value and apreciate all your posts. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7184 Posts |
I had to sell my $10 gold last year.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
The nicest of the U.S> gold $10 commemoratives in my opinion, but it brings to mind (I don't know why), the Canadian $20 gold commem, which is about the same size.
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
I remember when these came out and I probably still have the sales literature that was sent from the mint. I was only in grade nine, so the gold coin was nothing but a fantasy. I intended to get the dollars, but for some reason I did not follow through.
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New Member
United States
18 Posts |
The '84 3-coin set was my dream for a long time. I would still love to get one but I just have things I want to spend $325 on a whole lot more. I do have both dollars in the 2-coin set.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
Someday...I'll be able to go for the gold....
Looking at the Eagles on the 3 coins - who thinks they would survive the cut today and make it to the coins? I personally like how they aren't perfect, and in fact the gold one looks down right scrawny compared to the ones we have on other coins. I have these in the 3 coin silver sets and really like the silver coins for the "classic" take they strive for.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
Fascinating! I love this stuff!! Great job Commems!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36491 Posts |
Wonder how many of these have already made their way to the melting pot?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1302 Posts |
This is the set that got me into coins. My grandmother bought this set when it came out and it was the first collector coin set I ever laid my eyes on. I was in 1st grade at the time. The funny thing is I didn't recognize the gold coin as being the most valuable element of the collection- it was the large silver proof coin featuring the diskobulus of Myron that captured my attention. imagine my thrill when I later got to know the coin's designer, Mr. John Mercanti. In my opinion, Mercanti's eagles are amazing. He's working on one now for the Perth Mint that you wouldn't believe! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2637 Posts |
Quote:
The original price for an uncirculated coin from West Point was $339.00 I picked up three of these for $170 each about 10 years ago from a mail order house. I knew the price was good, but not how good. I've sold two, but I won't sell the third for less than $1,000. I'm in no hurry. |
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Valued Member
United States
469 Posts |
Is this the only U.S. coin to have a Mint Mark from 4 mints in the same year? I really do like the simple design of the commemorative both Obv and Rev.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
@Not Mint to Be: No. The first US coins to carry four different mint marks in the same year are the 1854 gold quarter eagles and gold half eagles. The coins were struck at five different mint facilities and carried the "C," "D," "O" and "S" mint marks for Charlotte, Denver, New Orleans and San Francisco. The coins were also struck at the Philadelphia Mint but did not feature a mint mark. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6514 Posts |
Beautiful commemorative coin there commems and thanks for the history lesson too.
Check out my counterstamped Lincoln Cent collection: http://goccf.com/t/303507 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Replies: 29 / Views: 16,188 |
Posted 11/14/2012 8:57 pm
