Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits #78 - 1995-96 Atlanta Olympics Coin Jewelry

The 1995-96 commemorative coin program for the Atlanta Olympics was a very large program with four different Half Dollar designs, eight different Silver Dollar designs and four different Gold Half Eagle designs; each design was available in a Proof and Uncirculated version.

In addition to selling the coins - individually or in sets - the US Mint also sold a variety of coin jewelry items - Key Chains, Money Clips and Pendants. As details on these coin jewelry items are not the easiest to find, I thought I'd post a bit about them.

Key Chains

The Key Chain was available with either the CuNi Clad Half Dollar or Silver Dollar. Each version features an Uncirculated coin (Half Dollar or Silver Dollar) and a nickel-plated chain.

The Half Dollar version was available for each of the four coins; the Issue Price for each was $24.95. Sales were as follows:

1995 Basketball: 316
1995 Baseball: 917
1996 Swimming: 427
1996 Soccer: 556

TOTAL: 2,216

The Silver Dollar version was available for each of the eight coins; the Issue Price for each was $49.95. Sales were as follows:

1995 Gymnast: 278
1995 Blind Runner: 12
1995 Track: 179
1995 Cycling: 96
1996 Wheelchair: 35
1996 Tennis: 119
1996 Rowing: 115
1996 High Jump: 96

TOTAL: 930


Money Clip

As with the Key Chain, the Money Clip was available with either an Uncirculated CuNi Clad Half Dollar or an Uncirculated Silver Dollar. The Clad Half Dollar version features a silver-plated money clip; the Silver Dollar version has a sterling silver money clip.

The Half Dollar version was available for each of the four coins; the Issue Price for each was $24.95. Sales were as follows:

1995 Basketball: 1,830
1995 Baseball: 1,079
1996 Swimming: 504
1996 Soccer: 581

TOTAL: 3,994

The Silver Dollar version was available for each of the eight coins; the Issue Price for each was $59.95. Sales were as follows:

1995 Gymnast: 131
1995 Blind Runner: 26
1995 Track: 1,087
1995 Cycling: 152
1996 Wheelchair: 40
1996 Tennis: 85
1996 Rowing: 133
1996 High Jump: 124

TOTAL: 1,778


Pendants

The Pendants were available with all 16 designs of the coin program: Clad Half Dollar, Silver Dollar and Gold Half Eagle.

The Half Dollar versions feature a silver-plated setting which held the coin with a 24-inch rope chain, and was available for each of the four designs; the Issue Price for each was $34.95. Sales were as follows:

1995 Basketball: 354
1995 Baseball: 413
1996 Swimming: 968
1996 Soccer: 641

TOTAL: 2,376

The Silver Dollar versions feature a sterling silver setting to hold the coin with a 30-inch rope chain, and was available for each of the eight designs; the Issue Price for each was $59.95. Sales were as follows:

1995 Gymnast: 360
1995 Blind Runner: 46
1995 Track: 223
1995 Cycling: 94
1996 Wheelchair: 67
1996 Tennis: 573
1996 Rowing: 93
1996 High Jump: 149

TOTAL: 1,605

Unique to the line of pendants, the pendants were also available for each of the four Gold Half Eagle coins. They feature a 14 karat gold setting with a 14 karat gold 20-inch rope chain. The Issue Price for each was $389.95. Sales were as follows:

1995 Torch Runner: 590
1995 Stadium: 45
1996 Flag Bearer: 185
1996 Cauldron: 172

TOTAL: 992


Clearly, the collecting community did not flock to the jewelry items, as none garnered strong sales - the best showing being made by the Basketball Key Chain at 1,830 units. Overall, the 1995 editions of each jewelry category did better than the 1996 items (as with the individual coins). Neither year, however, saw anything close to robust sales.