1995 XXVI Olympiad Paralympics Commemorative Silver Dollar

The 1995 XXVI Olympiad Paralympics Commemorative Silver Dollar was released by the US Mint as one of sixteen different Olympic coins issued in 1995 and 1996 to celebrate the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. It was also one of two released as part of that series dedicated to the Paralympics.

Paralympics are named for the fact that these games are run in connection with the Olympic Games, usually immediately following. Participants in these events have some sort of physical disability including amputations.

The Paralympics originated in 1948 with a small group of British World War II veterans. It has grown since to include thousands of participants in over 20 different sports.

Silver Dollar Information

The 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 102-390), which authorized the XXVI Olympiad Paralympics Commemorative Silver Dollar, also authorized fifteen other Olympic commemorative coins issued in 1995 and 1996 by the US Mint. However, mintages were low on these strikes owing to the fact that so many commemoratives were issued in such a short period of time resulting in an overload of sorts for collectors.

On the obverse we find a blind runner tethered to their seeing companion, as designed by James C. Sharpe. Included as well are the inscriptions of TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, PARALYMPICS, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 1995, the Paralympic Logo and the Braille inscription for "Spirit."

The reverse shows two hands clasped underneath the 100th anniversary Olympic logo, as designed by William Krawczewicz and sculpted by T. James Ferrell. Also shown are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ATLANTA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, ONE DOLLAR and a ‘P’ or a ‘D’ mintmark. This same reverse was used for all four of the 1995 released Olympiad Silver Dollars.

The US Mint split the minting duties for these strikes – Proof Paralympic Silver Dollars were struck at the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia, uncirculated at the US Mint’s facility in Denver.

The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Inc. and the United States Olympic Committee split the surcharges that were raised by the sale of the coins.

1995 XXVI Paralympics Silver Dollar Coin Specifications