This is the third silver
proof
coin from a
commemorative
set called the Australian Landmark series and it celebrates the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The series was released in
three stages with 6 coins altogether released in pairs according to three themes between the years of 1997-1999. The three
themes were Sydney, Melbourne and the Snowy Mountains. This particular coin is of course taken from the Melbourne theme issued
in 1998, in which it was paired with a coin commemorating the Melbourne Tram. The Sydney pair, released in 1997 commemorates
Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Finally the Snowy Mountain themed pair was issued in 1999 and commemorates
the Snowy Mountains Dam and the Snowy Mountains Tunnel. All six of the coins were stuck into sterling silver and feature
quality design and workmanship from the Royal Australian Mint.
The reverse of this silver coin was designed by Wojciech Pietranik
and features Melbourne Cricket Ground. The
legend
above reads MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND and the one below is the denomination 10 DOLLARS. The
obverse features the traditional portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as designed by Ian Rank-Braodley and the
legend
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1998. The original packaging for this coin and its pair was an oblong box with a photograph featuring
both the view over Melbourne City. COINS OF THE VICTORIAN CAPITAL is written above and MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 1998 below. A
tin box is included inside in which the two coins are presented and accompanied with a small booklet.
1998 Australian Landmarks
The Melbourne Cricket Ground has played host to a number of major sporting events, which has led to it becoming one of
the symbolic Landmarks of Australia and one of the most famous cricket venues in the world. The structure of the grounds
itself also hold a few impressive records including tenth largest stadium in the world, largest in Australia and has the
highest light towers of any sporting venue in the world. It is located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is the home of the Melbourne
Cricket Club.
(Wikipedia, 2013)
The Melbourne Cricket Ground or the MCG for short, was the primary stadium for the Summer Olympics as well as the 2006
Commonwealth Games and these two events catapulted the stadium into the eyes of the rest of the world. The Boxing Day Test
match is a huge international event and during the winter months is hosts the Australian rules football.
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