Q. David Bowers
Distribution
Sales of the 1984 Olympic $10 pieces were achieved through numerous options. The following (see earlier listings under 1983 and 1984 Olympic dollars, with which the present options are continuous) were offered: 1, 4, 5, and 6 (taken from the listing under 1983 Olympic dollars) plus additional Options 15 to 19:
(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."
(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.
(15) Single 1984-W Proof $10 pieces were offered at $352 each beginning March 1, 1984. Each coin was mounted in a plastic capsule housed in a blue velvet presentation case with a hinged lid. The case and descriptive literature were enclosed in a cardboard box with a beige lid and gold bottom. The Great Seal and "United States Olympic Gold Eagle" were imprinted on the box lid; contained in a white slipcover imprinted with the Great Seal.
(16) Single 1984-W Uncirculated $10 pieces were offered at $339 each in Europe beginning in January 1984 and in the United States beginning June 1984. Coins were packaged in a blue box.
(17) Single 1984-P Proof $10 pieces were offered at $352 each beginning in spring 1984. Each coin was mounted in a plastic capsule housed in a blue velvet presentation case with a hinged lid. The case and descriptive literature were en-closed in a cardboard box with a beige lid and gold bottom. The Great Seal and "United States Olympic Gold Eagle" were imprinted on the box lid; contained in a white slipcover imprinted with the Great Seal.
(18) Single 1984-S Proof $10 pieces were offered at $352 each beginning in spring 1984. Each coin was mounted in a plastic capsule housed in a blue velvet presentation case with a hinged lid. The case and descriptive literature were enclosed in a cardboard box with a beige lid and gold bottom. The Great Seal and "United States Olympic Gold Eagle" were imprinted on the box lid; contained in a white slipcover imprinted with the Great Seal.
(19) Single 1984-D Proof $10 pieces were offered at $352 each beginning in spring 1984. Each coin was mounted in a plastic capsule housed in a blue velvet presentation case with a hinged lid. The case and descriptive literature were enclosed in a cardboard box with a beige lid and gold bottom. The Great Seal and "United States Olympic Gold Eagle" were imprinted on the box lid; contained in a white slipcover imprinted with the Great Seal.
Sales of 1984 Olympic coins were terminated by the Mint on January 18, 1985. Final production figures for the 1984 Olympic $10 pieces were as follows: 1984-P Proof 33,309; 1984-D Proof 34,533; 1984-S Proof 48,551; 1984-W Uncirculated 75,886, Proof, 381,085. By all accounts the Olympic coinage program was a tremendous success. The Mint had clearly scored a five-ring victory.
Die Bashing
Burnett Anderson attended an unusual service in Washington, D.C., which was, in a way, the opposite of a first-strike ceremony, and filed this report with Numismatic News: (Transcript of original manuscript sent to Numismatic News, January 3, 1985.)
"The final event of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics has finally taken place, in Washington D.C., five months after the rest of the games ended in Los Angeles in August. Admittedly late, it was a brand-new competition, and, although it made good use of hammers, it had nothing in common with the traditional hammer throw. The new event is called 'Freestyle Die Bashing,' men's and women's singles and mixed doubles, a first in the history of both the Olympic Games and commemorative coinage. Perhaps because it is so new, it didn't attract a stadium full of eager fans, but the crowd, counting spectators as well as participants, did number in the dozens. Maybe three dozen altogether. They had what certainly could be called a smashing good time.
"U.S. Treasurer Katherine D. Ortega and the director of the Olympic coin program, Dean Mitchell, organized this particular bash, and a bash it was in every sense of the word. The event was staged to symbolize the end of the striking of Los Angeles Olympic commemorative coins as of December 31, 1984, to emphasize that no more will be made, and-to be honest about the whole thing-as a way of giving potential last minute buyers a not so gentle reminder that sales by the government will end January 18, 1985.
"Once the brief introductory speeches were over, emphasizing the success of a program that has disposed of 4.7 million gold and silver coins, brought in $307 million in receipts to the Treasury, and raised $67.7 million in funds for Olympic purposes, the real business of the morning began. Treasurer Ortega was first up with the hammer, at a specially prepared container with clear plastic walls to protect against any flying debris, all mounted on a table in the front of the Treasury's venerable Cash Room. After donning safety glasses provided for the occasion, Mrs. Ortega made a few tentative taps as a battery of photographers went to work, then took a few healthy swings at the face of the die. Larry Rolufs, her deputy, then removed the die, examined it and remarked, 'You won't make any more coins with that die. '"Then followed the ceremonial destruction of dies by a number of other onlookers.
"As Dean Mitchell had remarked earlier, 'Today's event is, to be sure, only symbolic. But the Mint is extremely thorough, and you can be sure all the dies will be melted down.' And then, after January 18, there'll be the second melt, of all unsold coins when, said Mitchell, 'the Olympic coin program will be history.' If it didn't end with a bang, it ended with a lot of banging."
Collecting 1984 Olympic Gold Coins
Today specimens of the 1984-W $10 Olympic gold coins are readily available in condition as issued, Uncirculated and Proof. The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco coins, all Proofs, are much scarcer.