Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the 1996 Special Olympics
In 1995, the Special Olympics held their World Games in Connecticut. The Special Olympics are athletic competitions for people with intellectual disabilities. Congress sought to honor these athletes and their competition by authorizing a commemorative Silver Dollar.
Congress authorized a maximum of 800,000 coins to be struck as the United States commemorative Silver Dollar. The surcharge on the coins would directly benefit the Special Olympics organization.
Congress authorized a maximum of 800,000 coins to be struck as the United States commemorative Silver Dollar. The surcharge on the coins would directly benefit the Special Olympics organization.
The obverse of the coin was designed by T. James Ferrell. It depicts a portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who is considered the founder of the Special Olympic Games. She is facing the left with “SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES” on the upper periphery and the word “LIBERTY” to the left and “IN GOD WE TRUST” to the right. The date “1995” is on the lower periphery.
The reverse was designed by Thomas D, Rogers Jr and depicts a rose, a Special Olympics medal with a and ribbon, and a quote by Eunice Kennedy Shriver that states “AS WE HOPE FOR THE BEST IN THEM, HOPE IS REBORN IN US. – EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER, FOUNDER.” Around the periphery are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” and the denomination “ONE DOLLAR.”
The 1995 Special Olympics World Games Silver Dollars were struck in Uncirculated and Proof conditions. The Uncirculated coins were struck at the West Point minting facility and bear a “W” mintmark on the obverse. 89,301 of these coins were struck at West Point.
The Proof version of this Special Olympics World Games Silver Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint and has a “P” mintmark also on the obverse. The Proof coin was more in demand and 351,764 coins were the mintage for the Proofs.
The coins were sold individually and in a two-coin set containing an Uncirculated and a Proof Silver Dollar.
| Date | Mintmark | Denomination | Type | Mintage | Value |
| 1995 | W | Silver Dollar | Uncirculated | 89,301 | $50.00 |
| 1995 | P | Silver Dollar | Proof | 351,764 | $45.00 |
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