Value of the 2000 Sydney Olympics $5 Coin: What It's Worth Today
The 2000 Sydney Olympics $5 coin is a commemorative issue from the Royal Australian Mint (RAM). It's legal tender but not intended for circulation—most survive in uncirculated condition.
Coin Specifications
- Composition: Aluminum bronze (92% Cu, 6% Al, 2% Ni) — "gold" color
- Weight: 13.50 g
- Diameter: 30.60 mm
- Mintage: 7,500,000 (uncirculated) + ~30,000 proof / 15,000 silver proof
- Design: Obverse — Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Reverse — Sydney 2000 logo + stylized Sydney Harbour Bridge (by Stuart Devlin)
Current Market Value (2024)
| Condition / Type | Estimated Value (AUD) |
|---|
| Circulated (worn) | $5–$8 (face value + small premium) |
| Uncirculated (original RAM card/folder) | $12–$25 |
| Proof (original case + COA) | $40–$70 |
| Silver Proof (0.925 Ag, 18.24 g) | $80–$150 |
| Graded MS69/MS70 (PCGS/NGC) | $50–$120+ |
What Drives Value
- Condition: Original packaging (card, folder, case) + Certificate of Authenticity = premium
- Variety: Proof vs. uncirculated vs. silver proof
- Grade: Third-party grading (PCGS, NGC) adds liquidity for high grades
- Demand: Olympic memorabilia collectors + Australian decimal collectors
How to Sell / Verify
- Check RAM website for original issue details
- Compare sold listings on eBay Australia, NumisBid, Downies, CoinWorks
- Local coin dealers (ANDA members) for immediate sale
- Don't clean — cleaning destroys value
Key Distinction
The circulating 2000 $5 (standard Coat of Arms reverse, ~50M minted) is worth face value ($5) unless uncirculated/graded. The Olympic commemorative has the Harbour Bridge reverse—that's the collectible one.
If you have one in its original RAM folder: ~$15–25. A nice keepsake, not a retirement fund.
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