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Canada is the host nation
for the-1976 Olympic Games
which opened in Montreal on
July 17.

In. the past, the Games
have proven to be a fairly
expensive proposition and
the "76 Games promise to
continue in that lamentable

fashion. The problem of .

’ financing the Games has
-given rise to a com-
memorative Olympic coin
issue in Canada, intended to
defray some of the capital

expenditures... .

The coins are what is
commonly, called com-
memorative pieces, that is
coins struck for a specific
‘occasion and in this par-
ticular case there are to be
thirty coins in total, - all
centered around the
Canadian Olympics one way
or another. The entire series
of coins is being released in
seven sets of four coins
each, two five dollar pieces,

‘two ten dollar pieces per

issue and two gold $100
coins. The total face value of
the entire issue will be four
hundred and ten dollars. -
~The face value is not
_ however a true represen-

By Victor Hayes

‘tation of the coins’ value.

The $5 and $10 are minted © °

from sterling silver blanks,

which means. that they are '‘.

_ 925 fine silver content. "The
increasing value of silver
will «probably. take the

‘Olympic coins -well over .

- face value in the future.

~ The numismatic value of -

~ the coins will of course vary

‘from collector to collector ;
in-.

depending on_ the
. Gividual’s approach . to
. -series: or theme collecting,
“and as-yet, coin dealers

. have not placed an inflated .
- Value on any of the series. ,

'. There are a few Olympic
- coins in circulation that
_-have been off-struck and
these have been bought and

‘sold at-increased price, but’: -
. the majority of the coins.
have'not yet aged enough to -
_ demand a- higher than.
purchase market price, This —

situation will undoubtedly
_ Change after the games
_-have come and gone.

- Thereare several notable ©.

_ examples -of modern
~ Olympic coin. issues and
. they have all appreciated in
‘-value considerably, some to
“an amazing degree. The

. various increases in selling.

price of past Olympic coins
“can probably be had ‘at. any

~ coin’ dealership for those

. interested in the Olympic
series as
'-’ possibilities. sO

The coins are minted at °

the Canadian Mint in Hull,

Quebec, in standard un- |
-¢irculated: sets and proof:

sets:. The standard .un-
circulated coins are single

- Struck in. sterling silver.
- blanks while, the proof sets _
_ :are being double struck and ..
‘then inspected by hand... —

“investment .

| ,- The marketing ‘of the

‘coins is being carried out in

throughout

a

the. :

Pr ne ee
CCE IE Le Lenn

an interesting manner. They -
‘have. been made ‘available -
world

through dealers and
distribution centres. The
Olympic Coin Program
figures to sell‘ fully half of .
the coins on the foreign
market. Foreign
numismatists and private.
persons have apparently
reacted quite favourably to
the coins. «=
Perhaps some of. this
appeal is generated by the
fact that the top three
rcent of the profit from
international :Glympic coin
sales is being donated to the _
countries. where coins are
sold. This three percent is to
help amateur. sports
eventually aimed at
providing better athletes for
the Olympics of the future.
The Olympic coins have
all- been designed by.
prominent artists as was
mentioned in a column that
covered themes in Canadian
coins, but I will have a little
information on some of the
specific designers in a
future. column’ on ‘coin
design.

‘I have been given to un-
derstand that ail banks are
carrying the.Olympic coins,
but coin dealers are. also
selling individual coins, sets
and complete subscription:
offers. Several of the
leading  numismatic
publications which I hope
‘you are at least familiar

with, are carrying Olympie
‘ coin offers as well.

The. coins are en-
capsulated in injected

plastic capsules in order to -
rotect them from wear and .

ndling damage and at
first glance tend to took like
medallions as opposed ‘to

true coins, but the Olympic
coin - program has
~ established them as coins by
‘offering a number of the

first series of pieces to the |

public.at face value through
the distributing banks. They
are thus true coins, not just
commemorative. . medals.

‘BERME BANUEY

PEOPLE THINK

WELL, JUST

I'VE GOT ITSO |} LET THEM
TRY SITTING | | AND THEN:
IN MY CHAIR: | * | WHAT THEY

AWHILE “|

LET. THEA TRY OUT =|
THE SEAT OF POWER,

LETS SEE
THINK

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WHO COULD
THAT BE?

YOU DELIVERING MAIL

MR. BEASLEY, WHY ARE |
AT NIGHT-

ran

[ANDTHE FIRE DEPARTMENT
_}. JUST GOT ME DOWN. .

BY MOET WALRER: >

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