Salvador Dali Olympic Coins
Commemorative coins have been a part of the Olympics in documentations dating back to 480 BCE. Back then the coins were used to allow patrons who were unable to attend the games to have a piece of the Olympics history. Now these coins are highly sought after by collectors and allow artists to create a tangible masterpiece that can be mass produced and in various metals.
The very well known Salvador Dali had created coins for various other events before being prompted to create commemorative coins for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Since he was not unfamiliar with the process, it is no surprise that the coins are well thought out and use the full space provided.
Below are the three different images featured on the backs of the coins with their specific year.
Eleven coins were created for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and again in the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. Of these the images used various sports were displayed: Gymnastics, Cycling, Wrestling, Track and Field, Soccer, Skiing, Archery, Equestrian, Pole Vaulting, Diving, and Discus. These images are true to Dali’s style and show a combination of surrealism and cubism to create a set of cohesive images. Each coin has a unique Dali signature; the wrestling coins signature also has a small 4 pointed crown hovering just above his name.
Featured below is an image of a complete box set from 1984.
