HARBOUR OF LIFE (AIR)

A three year joint program the Royal Australian Mint and The Perth Mint struck sixteen different 99.9% pure silver five dollar proofs for the Sydney Olympics dated 2000. Each coin has the edge lettering GAMES OF THE XXVII OLYMPIAD.

Stuart Devlin's original concept description:

A central feature depicting various forms of air travel both old and new surrounded by a border representing rain wind sun snow clouds and clear skies.

His comments on the final design:

'I have used a view of the coast near the entrance to Sydney Harbour (The Heads) showing the sea and the land dominated by the air above. Then to emphasise the air and make a rich design I have introduced gliding and diving seagulls. Probably because I was raised by the sea and now once again live right on the seashore I am very aware of the air as the vehicle of weather. Therefore I chose to represent various aspects of weather in the border. These range from sunshine wind and clouds to rain hail and lightning.'second quality outer case