The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games was supported by the largest coin program of the modern US commemorative coin series: four Half Dollar, Eight Silver Dollar and Four Gold Half Eagle designs. As each design type was available in Proof and Uncirculated versions, a complete collection of the 1995-96 coin program included 32 coins!
1996 Atlanta Olympics High Jump Silver Dollar
The beneficiary of the surcharge amount collected on each coin sold? The Atlanta Committee of the Olympic Games (ACOG).
In addition to the coins, ACOG raised funds to support its staging of the Games through product licensing. Pins, posters, flags/banners, glassware, etc. were available as licensed products. Several products were licensed years in advance of the Games and for an event that took place approximately 250 miles to the east-southeast of Atlanta. I refer to the Olympic Flag Arrival in Savannah, Georgia on September 10, 1992. Savannah also played a key role in the 1996 Games.
The Atlanta Olympics, in total, presented 271 events in 26 sports. Often overlooked, however, is the fact that the land-locked location of Atlanta meant that the 10 Olympic Yachting events (comprised of men's, women's and mixed events) had to be staged elsewhere. Where? Off the coast of nearby Savannah, Georgia in the Wassaw Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.
Logo of the 1996 Savannah Olympics - Yachting Events
(Image Credit: [/iA Guide to the 1996 Olympic Yachting Venue.)As noted above, Savannah was the sight for the arrival of the official Atlanta Olympics Flag in September 1992. The Flag was delivered via the US Coast Guard Tall Ship,
The Eagle[. The Flag arrived in Atlanta on September 18, 1992, after making a stops in Valdosta, Albany, Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Athens and Rome.
An Olympics history museum traveled with the Flag on its journey from Savannah to Atlanta; the museum displayed photographs, posters and various Olympic Games artifacts and memorabilia.
1996 Atlanta Olympics Flag
(Image Credit: Savannah, Georgia Mayor's Office. Fair Use, Education.)US Coast Guard Tall Ship The Eagle
(Image Credit: United States Coast Guard Academy, Media Image.)Note: The Eagle[i] was built in Germany (circa 1936), claimed by the US as part of its war reparations after World War II, and currently serves as a training ship for the US Coast Guard; it is based in New London, Connecticut. It has a steel hull, three masts and 23 total sails; the ship is 295 feet in length.
The non-profit Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) licensed a commemorative medal to help mark the Flag's arrival in Savannah; net proceeds from the medal's sales were designated to help fund the Atlanta Games. The medal's design theme was "Our Star Begins to Rise"
The obverse of the medal presents a highly stylized flag and flag bearer at its center with "OLYMPIC FLAG ARRIVAL" above the design and "SEPTEMBER 10-18, 1992" below. The medal's reverse presents the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games logo in the center with "CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC GAMES" near the rim above.
The medal shown is a base metal example (appears to be a copper-nickel alloy). It has a diameter of 39 mm and a plain edge. I'm also aware of one-ounce 0.999 fine silver versions. (It wouldn't be a surprise to learn of a small quantity of gold medals also having been struck for VIPs.) The medals were struck by Liberty Mint out of Provo, Utah.
My understanding is that the medal was sold at each of the stops the Flag made on its journey from Savannah to Atlanta, as well as in Savannah during its events.
1992 Atlanta Olympic Flag Arrival - Savannah, GA - Medal
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including other Atlanta Olympics stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 01/02/2025 2:35 pm
