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Australia Sydney Harbour

2000-C Proof Five Dollar

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The Sydney 2000 Olympics Five Dollar 'Sydney Harbour' Silver Coin is part of a collection containing 16 pieces. It was struck in sterling silver and were designed to represent both Australia's cultural history and environment. The set comprises of Festival of the Dreaming, Kangaroo, Early settlement, Great White Shark, Immigrants, Frilled Neck Lizard, Commerce, Emu, Sports and the Arts, Koala, Sydney Harbour, Platypus, Opera House, Echidna, Air and Kookaburra. They are all in a Five Dollar denomination. The set was released in 2000 following the successful Olympic Games from Sydney, Australia.

The reverse of the coin, designed by Stuart Devlin has an intricate design with a ring of various craft, that have passed under the bridge, around the inside edge of the coin. In the centre of the coin is a portrait of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with a boat passing underneath. Included at the base of the design is the official Sydney 2000 Olympics logo with the five coloured rings signifying the Olympics. The obverse features the traditional Raphael Maklouf 4th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, crowned, facing right, with necklace and earrings and is surrounded by the legend ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2000 5 DOLLARS. This coin along with the remaining fifteen to complete the set was originally packaged in a wooden display case and with a numbered certificate. On the outside of the lid is stamped with the text THE SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SILVER COIN COLLECTION and the inner side with ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT and the PERTH MINT.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was constructed by a British company, Dorman Long and Co. of Middlesbrough. It has just celebrated eighty years since its' completion. The original cost of the bridge was $4.2 million (Australian Government, 2013) and took eight years to complete. The opening ceremony on 19th March 1932 was a drama in itself, as Captain Francis De Groot rode up on his horse and slashed the ceremonial ribbon in defiance, as his political group was of the belief the only a member of the Royal Family should open the bridge.The bridge is now such a landmark that it has sightseeing trips whereby you can climb to the top of the bridge and get a 360 degree panoramic view that is quite breathtaking. The tours started back in 1988 and such people as Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark, Matt Damon, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Ferguson, Cathy Freeman and Kylie Minogue have all experienced it. The bridge is affectionately known as the 'Coathanger" and remains the worlds largest steel arch bridge.