Olympic Commemorative Coins: Background and Considerations for Congress

Olympic Commemorative Coins: Background and Considerations for Congress

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Updated March 13, 2024
Olympic Commemorative Coins: Background and
Considerations for Congress
The U.S. Mint produces commemorative coins pursuant to
equally between the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing
a specific act of Congress. These coins celebrate and honor
Committee and the United States Olympic Committee.
American people, places, events, and institutions. Although
Figure 1 shows the 1984 “Coliseum” Silver Dollar.
they are considered legal tender, they are not minted for
general circulation. Instead, they are designed to be
Figure 1. 1984 Los Angeles Olympiad “Coliseum”
collected (numismatic products) and to help a specified
Silver Dollar
statutorily designated group(s) raise money.
In 2028, the City of Los Angeles will host the Summer
Olympic Games. Historically, Congress has authorized
commemorative coins to celebrate the Olympics. For five
previous Olympiads, Congress has authorized
commemorative coins to honor the Olympic Games and
Olympic athletes. Three of those instances were for
Olympic Games held in the United States—1984, 1996, and
2002—and twice to honor American Olympic athletes for
games hosted by other nations—1988 (Seoul, South Korea)

and 1992 (Barcelona, Spain, and Albertville, France). In
Source: U.S. Mint, “Los Angeles Olympiad Coliseum Silver Dol ar,”
each case, the legislation designated the United States
at https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/
Olympic Committee as the recipient for at least some of the
commemorative-coins/1984-olympics-coliseum.
coins’ surcharge payments. For the three Olympics hosted
in the United States, surcharge payments were also directed
1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympics
to the host cities’ Olympic organizing committee.
In 1992, Congress authorized a total of 16 commemorative
coins for the 1996 Centennial Summer Olympics in Atlanta
(P.L. 102-390): two half dollars, four silver dollars, and two
The Olympic Coin Program reaped great rewards for
$5 gold coins to be issued in 1995 (8 coins) and 1996 (8
U.S. athletes in the 1984 Los Angeles games.... The
coins). In 1995, the half dollar coins honored baseball and
United States won more medals than any other
basketball; the silver dollars honored gymnastics, cycling,
country in history in the 1984 games and I hope
track and field, and the Paralympics; and the $5 gold coins
today’s legislation will provide valuable assistance so
depicted a torch runner and the Olympic stadium. In 1996,
that our athletes can equal or better that record in
the half dollar coins honored swimming and soccer; the
1988.
dollar coins honored rowing, tennis, the high jump, and the
Paralympics; and the $5 gold coins depicted a flag bearer
—Representative Chalmers Wylie, Congressional
and the Olympic cauldron. Proceeds were split equally
Record,
between the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and
August 6, 1987, p. 22757.
the United States Olympic Committee. Figure 2 shows the
1996 cauldron $5 gold coin.

Olympics in the United States
Figure 2. 1996 Atlanta Olympics “Cauldron” Gold $5
Since 1984, the United States has hosted the Olympics three
times: 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA; 2000
Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA; and 2002 Winter
Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT. In each instance, Congress
has authorized commemorative coins to honor the Olympic
Games and participating athletes and to provide surcharge
payments to designated Olympic organizations to help
financially support the Olympic Games.
1984 Los Angeles Olympics

In 1982, Congress authorized commemorative coins for the
Source: U.S. Mint, “Centennial Olympics (Cauldron) Gold $5,” at
1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics (P.L. 97-220). Three
https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/commemorative-
coins—two silver dollars and one $10 gold coin—were
coins/centennial-olympics-cauldron-gold.
authorized for the 1984 Olympics, with proceeds split
https://crsreports.congress.gov

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Olympic Commemorative Coins: Background and Considerations for Congress
2002 Salt Lake City
Future Olympics Commemorative Coin
In 2000, Congress authorized commemorative coins for the
The City of Los Angeles is to host the 2028 Summer
2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics (P.L. 106-435).
Olympic Games. In the 118th Congress (2023-2024),
Congress authorized two coins: a silver dollar and a $5 gold
legislation has been introduced (H.R. 1794 and S. 2311) to
coin. The law designated that surcharges from coins sales
authorize the U.S. Mint to issue Olympic commemorative
be equally split between the Salt Lake Organizing
coins in 2028, with the surcharge payments designated to
Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 and the
the United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties, a
United States Olympic Committee. Figure 3 shows the
joint entity of the LA2028 organizing committee and the
2002 Olympic Winter Games Silver Dollar.
United States Olympic Committee “for the objects and
purposes related to the hosting of the 2028 Olympic and
Figure 3. 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Silver Dollar
Paralympic Games and to aid in the execution of its legacy
programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the
United States.” The bills would authorize four coins—a $5
gold coin, a $1 silver coin, a $1 silver proof coin, and a
half-dollar clad coin.
Considerations for Congress
Should Congress consider and enact legislation to authorize
commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer
Olympic Games, it would be the fourth time that
commemorative coins have been issued for an Olympic

Games hosted by the United States and the sixth time
Source: U.S. Mint, “Olympic Winter Games Commemorative Silver
overall that commemorative coins have had an Olympic
Dollar Coin,” at https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/
theme. Should Congress consider 2028 Olympic
commemorative-coins/olympic-winter-games-silver.
commemorative coin legislation, several elements might be

Olympics Overseas
discussed. They include
•
Congress has twice authorized commemorative coins to
authorized coin denominations;
honor American athletes participating in an Olympic
• authorized number of coins per denomination;
Games that occurred outside of the United States: the 1988
Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and the 1992
• specific design instructions; and
Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and Winter
• surcharge designated recipient group(s).
Olympics in Albertville, France. The authorizing legislation
directed surcharge payments from coin sales to the United
For more information on commemorative coins, see CRS In
States Olympic Committee. Figure 4 shows the 1988
Focus IF10262, Commemorative Coins: An Overview, by
Olympiad Silver Dollar and the 1992 $5 gold coins.
Jacob R. Straus; and CRS Report R44623, Commemorative
Coins: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for
Figure 4. 1988 Olympiad Silver Dollar and 1992
Congress, by Jacob R. Straus.
Olympic Gold $5 Commemorative Coins
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
IF12261

Source: U.S. Mint, “Commemorative Coin Programs,” at
https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/
commemorative-coins.
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Olympic Commemorative Coins: Background and Considerations for Congress

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12261 · VERSION 2 · UPDATED