5 Dollars - Elizabeth II 4th Portrait - 70th Anniversary of Phar Lap's 1930 Melbourne Cup Win

5 Dollars - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - 70th Anniversary of Phar Lap's 1930 Melbourne Cup Win) - obverse5 Dollars - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - 70th Anniversary of Phar Lap's 1930 Melbourne Cup Win) - reverse

© Mike Bentley (CC BY-NC)

Features

Issuer Australia
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type Non-circulating coin
Year 2000
Value 5 Dollars
5 AUD = USD 3.26
Currency Dollar (1966-date)
Composition Aluminium bronze (92% Copper, 6% Aluminium, 2% Nickel)
Weight 28 g
Diameter 38.74 mm
Thickness 3.5 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number
N#
98051
References KM# 510
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States.
And 5 more volumes.

Commemorative issue

70th Anniversary Phar Lap's Melbourne Cup win

Obverse

4th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Script: Latin

Lettering:
ELIZABETH II
AUSTRALIA 2000
IRB

Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley

Reverse

Depiction of Phar Lap with Jockey in racing pose placed within a representation of part of a horse racecourse.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
PHAR LAP 1930
FIVE DOLLARS

Designer: Vladimir Gottwald

Edge

Reeded

5 Dollars - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - 70th Anniversary of Phar Lap's 1930 Melbourne Cup Win) -  obverse

© Mike Bentley (CC BY-NC)

Mint

Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, Australia (1965-date)

Comments

This NCLT Aluminium-bronze proof coin was released by the RAM in 2000 to commemorate 70 years since Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup in 1930. It was issued in a capsule in a plush case inside a cardboard box with certificate.

 
The name Phar Lap, forever etched in Australian History, is known by racing fans the world over. Yet, this magnificent story of triumph began without a notion of the fame and tragedy that would follow.
Struggling Sydney trainer Harry Telford saw potential in an ungainly colt from New Zealand and despite criticism from his peers he was determined to achieve success. Even the name Phar Lap, which is the Thai phrase for "Lightning", was testimony to Telford's faith in the horse. After his first and many subsequent victories in late 1929 and 1930 Phar Lap became known as the Red Terror by the thousands of unemployed who relied on him to boost their morale during the heartbreaking depression. Bookmakers were losing money with each Phar lap win. Amazingly shots were fired at him on an early spring morning in 1930, he was uninjured and won the Melbourne stakes later that day. Shortly after that he won the 1930 Melbourne Cup which engulfed the country in Phar Lap euphoria.

In 1932 Phar Lap was sent to conquer the world when he went to Mexico where he would run in the world's richest horse race, the Agua Caliente Handicap with stakes of $50,000. Phar Lap carried an injury into the race but continued to defy the odds by winning the race in record time. Sadly Phar Lap died on 5th April 1932 while resting in California, only sixteen days after his last triumph. Controversy marred the passing of the Australian Icon as various theories developed trying to explain his death. While the true cause of his death could never be established his record provides undeniable proof of his greatness, 37 wins from 51 starts and winnings the third highest in the world at that time.

A bi-metal coin also celebrating Phar Lap was released in the year 2000 (See Link)

See also

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
2000  18 804 Proof in Case

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