Manufactured by the Perth Mint, these three bronze coins were part of the 'Olympic Bronze Coin Collection' that commemorated the 28 sports of the Sydney Olympic Games. The reverse designs, by Phillip Halliday, represent gymnastics, sailing and football while the obverse design features a profile of Queen Elizabeth II. Each coin carries a face value of $5AUD, weighs 20 grams and measures 38.74 millimetres in diameter.

The Olympic Bronze Coin Collection was released in eight stages from October 1997 to March 2000. Stage 1 included sailing and gymnastics and stage 2 included football. Mounted on coloured cards, the coins sold in conjunction with a matching lapel pin or a medallion depicting an Olympic mascot. Together, they document the less- expensive spectrum of the coin program that appealed largely to first- time coin collectors.

The Olympic tradition of issuing commemorative coins commenced in ancient Greece as a means of connecting the general public with sporting events. The oldest known Olympic coin originates from 480 BC and commemorates the chariot race of King Anaxilas of Messina, Sicily. Although abandoned for many centuries, this tradition was revived briefly in Helsinki in 1952 and then permanently in Innsbruck in 1964.

The first modern commemorative coins were struck for circulation though are now minted purely for collection purposes, as non- circulating legal tender. Traditionally they are made from precious and base metals and in varying qualities, such as proof and uncirculated. Despite a considerable decrease in mintage in recent years, the coin programs have developed extensively to include a broader range of commemorative coins. The Sydney 2000 Olympics produced an unprecedented 52 coins depicting all 28 sports and abstract notions such as "dedication", "preparation" and Australian culture.

These three bronze coins were part of the 'Olympic Bronze Coin Collection' that commemorated the 28 sports of the Sydney Olympic Games. The reverse designs, by Phillip Halliday, represent gymnastics, sailing and football while the obverse design features a profile of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Perth Mint manufactured these coins as part of the 'Olympic Bronze Coin Collection'. The entire collection was released in eight stages from October 1997 to March 2000 - stage 1 included sailing and gymnastics and stage 2 included football.

These coins are examples of those that sold to the general public to commemorate the 28 sports of the Sydney Olympic Games. Together, they represent the less-expensive spectrum of the coin program that appealed largely to first-time coin collectors.

The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games donated these coins to the Powerhouse Museum in late 2000.

Coins (3), Olympic Bronze Coin Collection, bronze, Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000, designed by Phillip Halliday, made by the Perth Mint, released in October 1997 and April 1998

This is a collection of 3 commemorative coins. Each coin represents an Olympic sport: sailing, football and gymnastics. The coins each have a face value of five dollars. Their obverse depicts Elizabeth II and the reverse depicts a polished image of an Olympic sport. Each coin is presented in a card featuring a photographic image of an athlete playing the sport depicted on the coin. The coin is enclosed in a circular plastic bubble and inserted into a hole in the surface of the card. The card containing the coin is inserted into a rectangular cardboard pouch featuring the same photographic image depicted on the card. A hole through either side of the surface of the pouch enables the coin to be seen.

Made: 2000

2001/84/611

2000