Q. David Bowers
"I almost lost my job over this because we had put in a request for President Reagan to participate in some way, but there had been no response. Someone at the White House suggested that he participate by means of a phone call. [As the day of the ceremony drew closer] we called the White House and were told it was not on the schedule, so we figured that it would not happen. I got to San Francisco the day before the first-strike ceremony. The airline hadn't delivered my clothes, and I had to run out and buy something to wear. Barry Frere [of the Mint staff] met us at the door, frantic, going crazy with the telephone company to get the telephone, speaker, etc., ready because the "White House had called and had given the green light. We forgot to tell Secretary Donald Regan about it. He told Bay [Buchanan] and me later that if it (not informing him) ever happened again we should look for somewhere else to work!
"We were thrilled that the president was interested enough to participate, and, of course, it went over very big with the news media. There were several Olympic athletes in attendance at the ceremony. Several prominent people, designers, and others struck coins. The press became jammed, and we had to use a back-up. After the ceremony ended, my production staff came 0 to me and said we had to start over because the feathers were not filling on the eagle."
Marketing
A number of purchase choices were given to prospective buyers-with 1983 Olympic dollars offered individually and as part of sets containing 1984-dated coins as well. The following options were offered: (As delineated by Walter Breen in the 1990 reprint of The Encyclopedia of United States Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins.)
(1) Three-piece Uncirculated sets consisted of a 1983-P dollar, 1984-P dollar, and 1984-W $10 gold coin, offered for $395 until August 15, 1983, and available only to the early orderers of Option 5 described below. (The dates given in these options are the times during which orders were accepted at the prices listed.) 29,975 three-piece sets were eventually distributed. The coins were mounted in plastic capsules and housed in a maroon velvet presentation case with a hinged lid and a plaque of the Great Seal on the lid. The case and descriptive certificates were housed in a maroon cardboard box imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Silver & Gold."
(2) 1983 Uncirculated dollar sets consisted of 1983-P, D, and S dollars at $89 the trio, a price increased in late 1983 to $100 per set. Coins in plastic capsules were housed in a gray flannel display tray bearing a plaque of a heraldic eagle. The coins, tray, and descriptive certificates were contained in a blue box with a lid imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Silver Dollars."
(3) Single Uncirculated 1983-P silver dollars were offered at $28 each. 81,629 were sold. Each coin was mounted in a plastic capsule set on a gray felt lined tray housed in a blue cardboard box with a lid imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Silver Dollar."
(4) Cased six-coin sets consisted of 1983-P and S dollars, 1984-P and S dollars, each in Uncirculated finish, plus 1984-W Uncirculated and 1984-P Proof $10 pieces. The six coins were offered for $850. Somewhat over 8,926 sets were sold. Coins in plastic capsules were housed in a cherry wood box lined with maroon velvet (the underside of the lid was lined with maroon satin). The lid was imprinted with the Great Seal. The cherry wood box and descriptive literature were contained in a black cardboard box lined inside with maroon velvet and imprinted on the lid with the Treasury Seal and "United States Mint."
(5) Three-piece Proof sets consisted of the 1983-S dollar, 1984-S dollar, and 1984-W $10, and were offered at $352 from October 15,1982, to January 25, 1983, and at $416 to those who ordered from January 26, 1983 through June 5, 1983. 260,083 of these sets were sold. Coins in plastic capsules were housed in a maroon velvet presentation case with a hinged lid. The case and descriptive literature were contained in a maroon cardboard box imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Silver & Gold."
(6) "Coliseum three-piece Proof sets" consisted of the 1983-S dollar, 1984-S dollar, and 1984-S $10, all Proofs. At the Olympic Games in the summer of 1984, 4,000 sets were distributed this way. The packaging was identical to Option 5.
(7) Proof silver dollar sets consisted of a pair of 1983-S and 1984-S Proof dollars offered at $48 from October 15, 1982, through January 25, 1983, and for $58 from January 26, 1983, to June 5, 1983. 386,609were sold. Coins in plastic capsules were housed in a maroon velvet presentation case with a hinged lid on which was mounted a plaque of a heraldic eagle.
(8) 1983-S Prestige Proof sets consisted of a 1983-S Proof Olympic dollar combined with regular Proof sets of coins from the Lincoln cent to the half dollar at $59. 140,361 were sold this way, mainly to those on the Mint mailing list as regular Proof set purchasers. Each set was mounted in a maroon plastic case hinged between two leatherette covers with "1983" in silver imprinted on a book-type binding with a plaque of a heraldic eagle mounted on the front cover; the case was contained in a maroon cardboard box.
(9) Single 1983-S Proof dollars were offered for $24.95 each from October 15, 1982, through January 25, 1983 and at $29 from January 26, 1983, through June 5, 1983, after which remaining pieces were available for $32. Each coin was mounted in a plastic capsule set on a maroon velvet tray in a small maroon velvet presentation case with a hinged lid on which is a plaque of a heraldic eagle. The case was housed in a cardboard box with a white bottom and maroon top, the latter imprinted with the Great Seal and "United States Silver Dollar."
(10) Individual 1983-S Proof dollars were sold in specially cacheted envelopes postmarked at the Benjamin Franklin Station in Philadelphia, June 28, 1983, at $35.18 each over the counter. 290 pieces were sold (according to Philip Scott Rubin, who reported this to Walter Breen).
Bulk Sales
1983 and 1984 Olympic coins were offered at special prices to purchasers of large quantities. Coin World reported the following: (June 1, 1983, p. 22. )"Bulk quantity discounts go into effect June 6 [1983]. The Treasury Department will be offering five bulk rate plans for Proof coins and three bulk rate plans for the Uncirculated coin program. Persons, dealers, or corporations ordering 1,000 Proof silver dollars will be offered a $2.50 discount on each coin, or $29.50. Total cost for the 1,000 coins, less holders, will be $29,500. Presentation cases are extra in the bulk plans, at a cost of $1.13 per case. Those ordering 5,000 Proof silver dollars will receive a $3.75 discount on each coin, or $28.25 per coin. Total package cost, less Cases, will be $141,250. Orders for 30,000 silver dollars in Proof will receive a $5 discount per coin, or $27. Total package cost, less cases, will be $810,000.
"Two plans for the three-coin Proof set of Olympic coins will also be offered. Orders in quantities of 500 will receive a $48.50 discount per set, or $367.50 per set. Total cost, less cases, will be $183,750. Orders for 2,500 of the three-coin Proof set will be discounted $ 51 per set, or $ 365 per set. Total cost, less cases, will be $912,500.
"Three Uncirculated bulk plans are offered. In 1,000 silver dollar lots each coin will be discounted $1.50, for a per-coin cost of $26.50. Total cost, less cases, will be $26,500. In bulk lots of 5,000 silver dollars each coin will be discounted $ 2.75, for a per-coin cost of $25.25. Total cost of this plan, less cases, will be $126,350. In bulk quantities of 30,000 silver dollars, each coin will be discounted $4, for a per coin cost of $24. Total cost, less cases, will be $720,000."
Collecting 1983 Olympic Silver Dollars
Today 1983-P, D, and S Olympic commemorative silver dollars are readily available in condition as issued, with by far the most plentiful variety being the 1983-S Proof.