Perth Mint and Canberra's Royal Australian Mint to produce free Sydney 2000 Olympic medals

26/7/99
Premier Richard Court says the Perth Mint and Royal Australian Mint in Canberra will share the coveted role of producing the victory medals for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
The mints will produce the Olympic medals free of charge as a donation to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
The Perth Mint and the Royal Australian Mint are also partners in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Coin program, a collection of 52 commemorative Olympic coins being released progressively up until February 2000.
Mr Court said Western Australians could be proud that their historic mint would be manufacturing the prestigious Olympic and Paralympic victory medals.
"Over the years, the Perth Mint has produced many desirable collectables, but the Olympic victory medals are the ultimate minting commission - they confer a status and prestige that will last long after the excitement of the 2000 Games subsides."
The 6,000 victory medals will be produced from silver donated by BHP and gold donated by the Ophir 2000 Gold Project of New South Wales.
The designers of the victory medals are yet to be announced.
"It is a great honour that a Western Australian institution should be playing such an important and enduring role in the Olympic Games," Mr Court said.
Media contact: Casey Cahill 9222 9475