We left off in Part One with the end of the 1980s and the onslaught of commemorative coins being minted. While the programs were seemingly creating quite the cash flow for the United States Mint, they would significantly increase the frequency of issues being released. The 1990s had a commemorative coin series every year, with some years featuring multiple commemoratives.
(1990) Eisenhower Centennial
Honored with the 1971-1978 Eisenhower dollar, the Mint continued to commemorate Dwight D. Eisenhower as he remained a prominent figure to Americans. The 1990 commemorative silver dollar honors Eisenhower’s dual career as the President of the United States (1953-1961) and a military Allied Supreme Commander (1942-1945). The obverse features his profiles facing left and right showcasing those positions. The reverse depicts his home at Gettysburg, which is now a national historic site. The silver dollars, produced in Uncirculated condition from West Point and in Proof condition from Philadelphia, were released to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Eisenhower.
(1992) XXV Olympiad
In 1992, two commemorative coin programs were green lit and released to the public. One of those programs honored the XXV Olympiad which held the Winter Games in Albertville and Savoie, France, and the Summer Olympic games in Barcelona, Spain. The coins issued honored those Americans who participated in the games during the summer while also helping to raise funds for their training.
A clad half dollar in Uncirculated and Proof finishes, a silver dollar in Uncirculated and Proof finishes, and a $5 gold coin in Uncirculated and Proof finishes were issued in 1992. The half dollar featured a gymnast in motion atop an American flag while the reverse featured an Olympic torch, an olive branch, and the inscriptions CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS, which means “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” the Olympic motto.
The 1992 silver dollar has long since been a controversial commemorative based on the design on the obverse. The image depicts a pitcher firing a ball to home plate but looks strikingly similar to that of Nolan Ryan’s 1991 Fleer baseball card. The Mint would deny the claims made about the silver dollar. However, the controversy surrounding the design would make the commemorative desirable to collectors from both the sports and numismatic world.
A sprinter is the center of the obverse for the $5 gold coin. The reverse is shared with the silver dollar as it features the Olympic rings and the American bald eagle. In addition to the single versions of the coins, the Mint also made a 2-coin set including the clad half dollar and the silver dollar in Proof and Uncirculated finishes, a 3-coin set including the clad half dollar, silver dollar, and gold coin in both Proof and Uncirculated finishes, and a 6-coin set that features all three coins in both finishes. In addition, the 1992 Proof XXV Olympiad half dollars and silver dollars were featured in the Prestige Set.
(1994) Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The 1994 coins honoring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was one of six different commemorative programs offered that year. As a result, the sales suffered, creating a demand for the coins in the secondary market due to the lower mintage. The silver dollar captures a hand reaching up to touch the name of a loved on the wall while the George Washington Monument is seen in the distance. The reverse displays three service medals associated with the Vietnam War and their accompanying ribbons.
The silver dollars, struck in both Uncirculated and Proof finishes, were also available in a 3-coin U.S. Veterans Set that also featured the Prisoner of War commemorative and the Women in Military commemorative. The set was offered in Uncirculated and Proof finishes. Only 150 of each were issued.
(1995-1996) Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games
The commemorative coin program celebrating the Atlanta Olympic Games featured 16 different coins with both Proof and Uncirculated versions minted, totaling 32 coins for the complete set. Collectors did not like this move by the Mint, and sales proved it. Issues celebrating swimming, baseball, soccer, basketball, gymnastics and more were released in addition to 2-coin sets, 4-coin sets, Young Collector sets, 8-coin sets, 16-coin sets, and finally the complete 32-coin set. Some of the coins were also featured in the Prestige Proof Sets.
After this massive series, Congress introduced and passed legislation that limited the number of commemorative programs to just two per year. However, it did not limit the number of coins allowed to be issued per series.
(1998) Robert F. Kennedy
The first issue to fall under Congress’ new rule of only two commemorative programs allowed per year, the Robert F. Kennedy commemorative was issued in 1998. The coin, struck in an Uncirculated and Proof finish from San Francisco, honored Kennedy’s achievements as not only the attorney general of the United States from 1961-1964, but also as a U.S. senator for the state of New York from 1965-1968.
Surcharges from the sale of the coins were to go to the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial. In addition to the silver dollars, there was also a 2-coin collector’s set featuring an RFK silver dollar and a Matte Finish JFK silver half dollar. There were only 200 sets minted. There was also a 2-coin set that featured the Proof and Uncirculated versions of the RFK silver dollars. Only 85 of those sets were produced.
Other Commemorative Programs
A slew of commemoratives was minted in the 1990s. Those not mentioned above are as follows: (1991) Mount Rushmore Golden Anniversary, (1991) Korean War Memorial, (1991) United Service Organizations, (1992) White House 200th Anniversary, (1992) Christopher Columbus Quincentenary, (1993) Bill of Rights, (1993) 50th Anniversary of World War II, 1991-1995, (1994) Thomas Jefferson 250th Anniversary of Birth, 1993, (1994) World Cup Tournament, (1994) U.S. Prisoner of War Museum, (1994) Women in Military Service Memorial, (1994) U.S. Capitol Bicentennial, (1995) Civil War Battlefield Preservation, (1995) Special Olympics World Games, (1996) National Community Service, (1996) Smithsonian Institution 150th Anniversary, (1997) U.S. Botanic Garden, (1997) Jackie Robinson, (1997) Franklin D. Roosevelt, (1997) National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, (1998) Black Revolutionary War Patriots, (1999) Dolley Madison, (1999) George Washington Death Bicentennial, and (1999) Yellowstone National Park.
Downfall #2
The 1995-1996 Olympic Games series that included 32 total coins was series that officially led to the breakdown yet again of U.S. commemoratives. After Congress limited the number of programs allowed to be produced per year to two, sales would continue but drastically decline compared to prior years. Collectors were tired and the market was saturated, and the pattern would only continue throughout the remainder of the decade. However, no one would foresee what was to come in the new millennium.
Source: NGC Coin; The Official 2025 Red Book
