Obverse. Photo © United States Mint
  • 5 Dollars 1996, KM# 270, United States of America (USA), Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, Olympic Cauldron
  • 5 Dollars 1996, KM# 270, United States of America (USA), Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, Olympic Cauldron
Description

The 1996 Olympic Cauldron $5 Gold Coin was issued as an extensive commemorative coin program created for the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics. Over two years from 1995 to 1996, a total of 16 different coin designs were issued in clad, silver, and gold.

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 an athlete lighting the Olympic flame.

The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olympic torch relay, which formally ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The flame then continues to burn in the cauldron for the duration of the Games, until it is extinguished during the Olympic closing ceremony.

Design: Frank Gasparro and T. James Ferrell

LIBERTY
USA
IN GOD
WE TRUST
FG TJF
1996

Reverse

Depicts the emblem of the 1996 Summer Olympics. This reverse design was used for both $5 gold Olympic commemorative coins issued in 1996.

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 color 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: William Krawczewicz and Thomas D. Rogers Sr.

• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA •
100
Atlanta
WJK TDR
E PLURIBUS UNUM
W
FIVE DOLLARS

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.900
Weight 8.359 g
Diameter 21.6 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
West Point Mint (W)

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