5 Dollars Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games

Authorized under the Salt Lake City Olympic Commemorative Coin Act of 1999, this issue was timed to coincide with the 2002 Winter Games — which became one of the most scandal-shadowed Olympics in modern history after the IOC bribery affair of 1998–99 exposed systematic vote-buying in the host-city selection process. Several IOC members were expelled before the first event was held.

Surcharges from sales funded the organizing committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Mintage across proof and uncirculated strikes combined fell well short of authorized limits, as was increasingly typical of 1990s–2000s U.S. commemorative gold issues suffering from collector fatigue after years of program overextension.