2008 Beijing Olympics coin carries $17,000 estimate at Spink Smythe

This 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics 2000 Yuan coin will star at Spink Smythe's Collector's Series Sale

If, like us, you can't wait for the London 2012 Olympics, then you won't want to miss this: a chance to mark the event in style at Spink Smythe's Collector's Series Sale. The auction is offering a rare Chinese People's Republic 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics 2000 Yuan coin.

Only 2,008 of these coins were minted for the occasion, each bearing the common design for the Beijing summer Olympics, including a striking rendering of its colourised logo surrounded by two dragons.

On the coin's reverse are depictions of four sports: volleyball, boxing, hurdles and diving. Olympic rings are featured in the background.

The rare 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics 2000 Yuan coin

This unique and eye-pleasing coin is rightly billed by Spink Smythe as "a seldom offered and impressive relic of the 29^th modern Olympic games. The coin remains housed in its impressive presentation box styled as a 5.8 pound jade dragon.

An inscription at the dragon's base reads: "The official commemorative gold coin for the games of the XXIX Olympiad / 5oz / AU .9999." Lifting the jade dragon reveals this amazing and very rare coin. Both the coin and box were formerly of the noted Waldman Collection.

The numismatic collectible will appear in Spink Smythe's sale with a $15,000-17,000 presale estimate. This certainly won't be a hurdle for interested bidders - and we can definitely see bids on this coin climbing above its high estimate.

The coin's 5.8 pound jade dragon presentation box

Of course, looking back to the 2008 Beijing Olympics is all well and good. But what about 2012? Well, we expect gold medals won at London 2012 to also be in great demand when they begin to appear at auction in years to come. You can read more about our views here.

Spink Smythe's Collector's Series Sale will be held in New York on January 16-18.

Recent and related articles

  Ta Ching banknote colour trials lead Spink's Hong Kong currency auction | 3 January 2012

  John Snell Chinese Coin Collection to go under the hammer | 6 November 2011

  Chinese Phoenix and Dragon gold coin could rise at Long Beach, this week | 6 September 2011

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Images: Spink Smythe