Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1/2 Dollar 1995, KM# 257, United States of America (USA), Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, Basketball
  • 1/2 Dollar 1995, KM# 257, United States of America (USA), Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, Basketball
Description

The 1995 Olympic Basketball Half Dollar was part of an ambitious coin program issued for the 1996 Summer Olympics. A total of 16 different coin designs were issued over the course of two years.

The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. These were the fourth Summer Olympics to be hosted by the United States, and marked the centennial of the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, the inaugural edition of the modern Olympic Games. These were also the first Summer Olympics since 1924 to be held in a different year than the Winter Olympics, as part of a new IOC practice implemented in 1994 to hold the Summer and Winter Games in alternating, even-numbered years.

10,320 athletes from 197 National Olympic Committees competed in 26 sports, including the Olympic debuts of beach volleyball, mountain biking and softball, as well as the new disciplines of lightweight rowing, women's fencing, team rhythmic gymnastics, and women's association football. A total of 24 countries made their Summer Olympic debuts in Atlanta, including 11 former Soviet republics participating for the first time as independent nations. With a total of 101 medals, the United States topped the medal table for the first time since 1984 (and for the first time since 1968 in a non-boycotted Summer Olympics), also winning the most gold (44) and silver (32) medals out of all the participating nations.

Obverse

Depicts three basketball players competing in the Olympic Games.

Basketball at the Summer Olympics has been a sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a medal sport, basketball was held as a demonstration event in 1904. Women's basketball made its debut in the Summer Olympics in 1976. The United States is by far the most successful country in Olympic basketball.

Design: Clint Hansen
Modelling: Alfred Maletsky

LIBERTY
USA
IN GOD
7 12
WE TRUST
XXVI CPH 1995 AM OLYMPIAD

Reverse

Depicts the emblem of the 1996 Summer Olympics in the centre of a map. This reverse design was used for all Olympic half dollar commemoratives issued in 1995.

The emblem: The base of the torch mark logo, made of the five rings and the number 100, resembles a classical Greek column and recognizes the centennial of the Games. The torch mark's flames gradually evolve into a perfect star symbolizing each athlete's pursuit of excellence. The gold colour in this logo represents gold medals. The green represents laurel branches worn by winners in ancient times, as well as Atlanta's reputation as the City of Trees.

Design: T. James Ferrell

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
100
TJF Atlanta S
E PLURIBUS
UNUM
HALF DOLLAR

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Copper Nickel Clad Copper
Weight 11.34 g
Diameter 30.61 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
San Francisco Mint (S)

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