Following up on my previous "Advanced Notice" post about these Olympic Games coins...Bill(s)S 2265 (Introduced July 14, 2025; Alex Padilla (D-CA). Referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.)
HR 4382 (Introduced July 14, 2025; Brad Sherman (D-CA). Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Short Title- America's Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act
Proposed Year of Issue2028 / 2034
PurposeTo commemorate (and provide financial support for) the US-hosted 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and the 2034 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad or "LA28", will be held in Los Angeles, California.
(2) The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, officially known as the XXVII Olympic Winter Games 2034, will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
(3) This marks the return of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the United States for the first time in 26 years, following the successful 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
(4) The United States has hosted the modern Olympic Games 9 times, with the 2028 Games becoming the third time Los Angeles will host the summer Olympic Games and the 2034 Games becoming the second time Salt Lake City will host the Olympic Winter Games.
(5) The Paralympic Games will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2028, with Los Angeles hosting the Paralympic Games for the first time.
(6) Unlike some other countries, Olympic Games in the United States are privately funded. The LA28 and Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Games maintain this model with its revenue generated by corporate partners, broadcast rights, licensing, hospitality, and ticket sales.
(7) With the Paralympic Games coming to the United States, the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Program have the opportunity to increase awareness and create more inclusivity for people with disabilities with the creation of a single, unifying coin to commemorate the Games.Coins2028 Summer Games- up to 100,000 Gold Half Eagles ($5)
- up to 500,000 Silver Dollars
- up to 300,000 Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollars
- up tp 100,000 Silver Dollars - (Five ounces)
2034 Winter Games- up to 100,000 Gold Half Eagles ($5)
- up to 500,000 Silver Dollars
- up to 300,000 Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollars
- up tp 100,000 Silver Dollars - (Five ounces)
SurchargesBoth Programs: 2028 Summer Games and 2034 Winter Games- $35 on each Gold Half Eagle
- $10 on each Silver Dollar, and
- $5 on each Clad Half Dollar
- $50 on each Silver Dollar (Five ounces)
Sponsor/Beneficiary- 2028 Coin Program: United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties
- 2034 Coin Program: Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
For the objects and purposes related to the hosting of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games / 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and to aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States.
CommentsI believe that the proposed Olympic coin programs will eventually be authorized by Congress. It might not be as a result of either of the current bills, but the program will eventually become law (IMO). The Olympic Games have significant support among members of Congress, especially when hosted by the US, so passage of the bill seems inevitable.
A sell-out of all coins of either program (2028 or 2034) would generate $15.0 million in surcharges ($3,500,000 + $5,000,000 + $1,500,000 + 5,000,000, respectively). Recent US Olympic Games coin programs have not sold out, however, and I'm not aware of a compelling story attached to either of these upcoming Games that lead me to believe their coin sales would reverse the recent trend.
The bills include only a general statement regarding the designs for the 2028/2034 coins, stating that they "shall be emblematic of the participation of United States athletes in or the staging of the 2028/2034 Olympic and Paralympic Summer/Winter Games."
Proof and Uncirculated versions of each of the coins are to be struck, except for the five-ounce Silver Dollars which are to be Proof-only issues.
A related bill - proposing only 2028 Olympic And Paralympic Games coins - was introduced in the previous Congress, but it failed to pass. (If you'd like to compare:
2028 L#1040;28 Olympic And Paralympic Games - Possible? #06.)
As I stated for the previous bill: "The inclusion of a five-ounce Proof Silver $1 coin recalls the Apollo XI commemorative coin program of 2019. While all silver and gold commemorative coins feature denominations that are nods to history vs. based in current-day reality, I find the modern five-ounce silver coins to carry the most non-sensible denomination. A $1 denomination for a "coin" with five ounces of silver when a less-than-one-ounce Silver Dollar is simultaneously being issued in the program?"
Likelihood of Passage?- Per GovTrack:
- S 2265 - 5% (as of date of this post) - 11 Co-Sponsors
- HR 4382 - 5% (as of date of this post) - 14 Co-Sponsors
Far more Co-Sponsors are needed!
For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more Possible? commemorative coin stories, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 08/02/2025 07:51 am
