By Mary Cordova
The first and only sets of Olympic coins are being issued by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 along with The United States Mint.
The coins are being issued to commemorate the Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games and to capture the defining elements of the Olympics.
The theme for the coins is “fire and ice.” Silver and gold uncirculated coins will be available the week of Jan. 21st.
The coins were minted in two different locations – the silver coins at the Philadelphia mint and the gold at The West Point, N.Y. mint.
The coins were produced in a joint effort between the SLOC and the U.S. Mint. They wanted the coins to represent worldwide and historic events.
“I think it”s wonderful they”re releasing the coins after what happened on Sept. 11 and that the world can still come together like this,” Shir Lynn Baird, 20, sophomore majoring in math dducation from Kaysville, Utah said.
The U.S. Mint has produced 80,000 gold $5 coins and 400,000 silver dollar coins with a portion of the proceeds going to SLOC for their efforts in staging the games and to the United States Olympic Committee for U.S. Olympic athletes.
“I like the fact that the funds from the coins are helping our U.S. athletes,” said Kim Colledge, a buildings supervisor from Lehi, Utah.
The coins are sold in sets. Any orders placed before Feb. 25, 2002 will receive a discount. The prices are: Silver Proof Dollar in Presentation Case, $33; Gold Proof Five Dollar Coin in Presentation Case, $195; Gold and Silver 2-Coin Proof Set in Presentation Case, $210; Uncirculated Silver Dollar in Gift Box, $30; Gold Uncirculated Five Dollar Coin in Presentation Case, $180; Gold and Silver Proof and Uncirculated 4-Coin Set in Presentation Case, $440.
The coins can be ordered online at www.saltlake2002.com or www.usmint.gov. The coins can also be found in many coin stores nation wide and in Salt Lake City with local retailers.
