The Sydney 2000 Olympics Five Dollar 'Echidna' 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 flowers, depicting its habitat, around the inside edge of the coin. In the centre of the coin is an
Echidna lying on its back with its young. 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 Echidna has a life expectancy of more than 45 years. It can grow up to 50cm in length. It can be found in Australia
and New Guinea. It was a mascot of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They don't have any teeth, but they sniff out insects and allow
them to crawl onto its sticky tongue. They have a great defence against predators as they tuck in their head and become a
ball of sharp spikes. It's scientific name is Tachyglossus aculeatus and means 'spiny fast-tongue'.
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