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Australia Echidna

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2000-P Proof Five Dollar

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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'.