bib ot MATE Matta 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 oN _ D-UH-} i _D-UH- THE WHOLE ( c'Mon~- - "ARE veoH, | |f Computer system | Tie Ree ee Gor ARCH? | |§ DEPENDS ONY JOB/ ‘AdOBASA | } | COMPUTER q : a 4 ; iJ 7 Ss BLONDIE — = WHO COULD THAT BE? YOU DELIVERING MAIL MR. BEASLEY, WHY ARE | AT NIGHT- ran [ANDTHE FIRE DEPARTMENT _}. JUST GOT ME DOWN. . BY MOET WALRER: > oe +