I was given a green 'velvet' box, Olympic symbol on top. Inside are 10 proof Canadian $20 face silver rounds. The COA says they are 1 troy oz each. The obverses are all alike, with the Queen, and a date ranging from 1985 to 1987. The reverses have the face value of $20, and a separate winter sport for each coin. Also, the reverse have the 1988 date, and "Calgary". My questions are: Is this a complete set, or are there more than 10 versions? Are any of these in the set worth more than just melt? If any/all are worth more than melt, how much? Thanks! Dave
Here is the only one I have found for sale anywhere: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-1988-CALGARY-WINTER-OLYMPICS-10-COIN-SET-PROOF-20-STERLING-SILVER-/330616803695?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfa4c116f The seller is asking far more than melt, which is why I am asking. Are they dreaming, or is this set worth more than melt?
The coins shown, with the medallion in a beautiful green velvet box are the complete set of 10 Calgary Winter Olympic Games silver $20 coins. The Royal Canadian Mint also had the US Mint sell the coins for them directly, in pairs, as they were released. If I remember correctly, the full green box came with the release of coins three and four. The first two coins issued in 1985 came with their own little green velvet box. Mintages began at 351,000 coins for the 1985-dated Downhill Skiing and drifted down to 217,000 for the 1987-dated Bobsled. Mintages and the issue price of each coin was Can$37.00, per the 2011 edition of Haxby and Willey's Coins of Canada.
Thanks for that info Mark! That explains why I have 10 separate COAs, and why I have some little 2 coin green boxes with the same symbols, that are empty. So, there are 2 ways to look at it I suppose... 1: An average of 300k coins minted, in proof terms, means that they are common. 2: In terms of complete sets, only 217k are even possible, but not likely. Still common though, even at those numbers, as they never circulated. Sounds like melt value to me... ????
These were the days when the Royal Canadian Mint had a restrained policy on minting commemorative coins. The 1985-1987 Calgary coin program was also a response to the huge number of $5 and $10 silver coins issued for 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, basically, less is more. The set is beautiful and the designs emblematic of the high quality of Royal Canadian Mint coinage. Have they increased in value in 25 years? No, unfortunately, even with the currently higher value of silver. An $877 price is very high for the set. There are other sets on eBay that cannot make even $400 for a bid. I purchased the set through the subscription at the US Mint 25 years ago for collecting enjoyment. The most likely reason they have never increased in value is the higher mintage, the global appeal of the Olympic coins, particularly from the host nation and a saturated market at the time.
I just received this set from my mom it belonged to my father. Iwaswondering how much the sets value is as none have the side lettering.
