Seoul Olympiad – 1988

Silver and Gold Celebrating the 1988 Seoul, Korea Olympics

The United States Olympic team attended and participated in the Seoul, Korea, Olympics in 1988. The United States Mint celebrated these Olympics by issuing a Silver Dollar coin, in both Mint State and Proof conditions as well as a $5.00 Gold coin, also issued in Mint State and in Proof.

Patricia Lewis Verani designed the obverse of the Silver Dollar. The design depicted one hand holding the Statue of Liberty’s torch while across the coin another hand was holding the Olympic torch. The flames merge at the top, framed by two olive branches, one on each side. At the upper periphery is the word “OLYMPIAD”, while “LIBERTY” is on the bottom periphery. In the left-field are the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” while in the right field is the date “1982” with the mintmark “D”, below the date.

Sherl Joseph Winter designed the reverse of the Silver Dollar. In the center are the 5 interlocking Olympic rings with the letters “U S A” above the rings. Below the rings are “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” The denomination is also above the rings expressed as “1 DOLLAR” displayed on two lines. The legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is around the outer periphery with an olive branch on either side.

191,368 of these Denver coins were struck in Mint State condition and sold. Additionally, 1,359,366 Proof coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint and sold. The legislation that authorized these coins allowed up to 10 million coins to be struck, but about a 1.5 million coins were sold and distributed. These proof coins have the exact same design as the Mint State coins, except for the mintmark changing from a “D” to an “S”, but they have a Proof finish to them. 

Also to honor the 1988 Seoul Olympics, a $5.00 gold coin was struck.

This was only the third $5.00 gold commemorative coin ever struck. The obverse of the coin was designed by the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, Elizabeth Jones. This popular obverse design features the head of the Goddess Nike, representing Victory. She faces left while wearing a crown of olive leaves. Below her face is the word “LIBERTY” and to the left of it is the date “1988”. 

The reverse was designed by Marcel Jovine, who created a stylized version of the Olympic flame, with the 5 Olympic rings above, with the top three rings each containing a letter “U S A”. Below the flame is “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and below that is the denomination “FIVE DOLLARS.” Around the periphery is “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”

1 Million Gold coins were authorized to be struck but 62,913 Mint State coins were struck while 281,465 Proof coins were also struck. All of these gold coins were struck at the West Point Mint but only approximately 245,000 coins were struck and sold.

The coin is sometimes criticized in that Jones’ classical obverse doesn’t seem to match Jovine’s stylized reverse but many collectors like the combination together.

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