1/2 Dollar Atlanta Olympics - Basketball

Congress authorized 23 separate commemorative coins for the 1996 Atlanta Games — the largest commemorative program in U.S. Mint history — spread across 1995 and 1996 issues. The sheer volume of coins flooded the collector market, suppressing demand and leaving the Mint with substantial unsold inventory. Most issues from the program sold well below their authorized mintage limits.

The clad half dollar format was chosen specifically to hit a lower retail price point, but even discounted sets moved slowly.