My Atlanta Olympic $5 Gold die collection, a hunt in progress
Mitchell
Posts: 557 ✭✭✭✭
updated with some additions 1/16/2021
A charitable description of the 1995-1996 US Mint Olympic coin program would be "ambitious". The US Mint sought to capitalize on public enthusiasm of a Olympic Centennial held in the US with a huge program consisting of sixteen coin types, delivered over two years in both proof and uncirculated versions with many packaging varieties.
Unfortunately for the US Mint and the US Olympic Committee, collectors felt otherwise and response to the program could be only be best described as tepid. Perhaps in an attempt to boost program income (I really am guessing here), near the end of the program, the US Mint took the unprecedented step of offering partially defaced coin dies for sale. The dies for sale included the gold $5 in both proof and uncirculated versions, and the proof-only silver dollars dies. The Mint did not to sell any of the half dollar or uncirculated silver dollar dies.
Although an Olympic gold die collection consists of only six varieties (four obverse and two reverse), completing the set will take much more time than a silver dollar die set (eight obverse and two reverse dies. The rarest gold die (proof Torch Runner) has a population of 8 with some of the other die population number in the teens. Thus, the total number of complete gold $5 die sets can only be 8. The uncirculated gold dies don't have the heft or flash of the proof silver dollar dies and come with a dull look that borders on unattractive (yet I still enjoy them). All gold dies cost an arm and a leg.
My incomplete gold die collection consists of all of the 1995 varieties.
Thanks to Jon Sullivan for this die (the kidney is still working, right?).
1995 $5 Torch Runner Proof Die (population - 8)
1995 $5 Reverse Proof Die (population - 39)
Here is a couple of more gold dies that I have:
1995 $5 Stadium Uncirculated Reverse Die (population - 33)
1995 $5 Reverse Uncirculated Die (population - 39)
1996 $5 Reverse Proof Die (population - 78)
I think I'll consider my collection complete when I manage to find any version (proof or uncirculated) of each type. The low populations (and cost) make it very unlikely that I'll possess a complete set of $5 gold dies. I think it's kind of cool that I was able to find a proof and uncirculated example of the same design.
Collecting coin dies because they offer an unusual way of enjoying numismatics. I guess I also enjoy the challenge of the hunt - the dies are ridiculously rare. Unlike almost all of the Mint's die offerings, most of the design is still visible, albeit mirror-reversed. There are no issues (yet) with slabbing, stickers, counterfeiting, or doctoring.
Comments
Awesome $5 West Point Die Collection Mitchell !
Wow, very interesting !!!
bump for the updates to the collection
Wow! Very kewl collection so far!!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Nice start...............even if you never finish.
bob
Yeah Bob, I know there's a pretty good chance that this set won't be completed. Sigh.
Yes, very cool 😎
Really cool and I’m amazed the mint even allowed these out despite the fact they are cancelled.
Very cool!
Cool set!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
I have seen collectors with one or two cancelled dies, but you deserve a 'registry die set' category. Very impressive collection. Cheers, RickO
If I'm reading this right, there are 6 dies to collect and you have 5 of them?
What a wonderful set!
Congrats on the torch runner die! A US Mint product with a population of 8 is amazing!
I agree. I have a few US Mint dies. They are a lot of fun to collect.
Pair of $5 gold dies
Cool 1996 Proof $5 dies. Anytime you get bored with them, sell them to me!
They are pretty, huh ? I actually acquired examples that include informative COA too. 6 for 6. These & my four silvers will never get sealed in a NCG tube, not on my watch. I use my pop's empty pill containers for safe storage. I think lucky owners who kept the die in the included bag caused the die shank to rust. All my dies were not stored in the included black, obviously unused bag. Thus my 6 dies are rust free. For me my 95/96 collection is complete, unless an affordable shopping opportunity crosses my path. I picked up B.I.N. Cauldron when I felt my 5 die set of 22 available was all I needed. There was no reason to pass on it, so a week later I had it as issued in it's obsolete priority mail box, foam inserts, unused toxic bag & COA. You Mitchell & Steve Bieda , who wrote ANA Numismatist X Cancel Dies Article, have been an inspiration for me.
Lindy
Standard US Silver Eagle tubes work great for storing and shipping modern US Mint dies.
Great suggestion. What do you guys use to protect your dies from corrosion when you put them in long term storage?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Anybody here get this $5 X Cancel ?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393797092817