Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    CANBERRA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Australian Post said on Tuesday an Australian coin shaped as a postage stamp has been created to commemorate the Beijing Olympic Games.

    One side of the 50 cent "stamp-coin" features the mythical Chinese dragon and the Australian Olympic Committee logo, and the other side reproduces the usual image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

    Only 8,000 of the coins will be released across the country in a tribute to the Chinese belief in the lucky number eight, Australia Post said.

    The limited edition 50c stamp-coin would go on sale priced at 89.95 Australian dollars (85.81 U.S. dollars starting on Tuesday, Australia Post said.

    Group philatelic manager Noel Leahy said the stamp-coin represented China's proud history and culture.

    "With the Beijing Olympic Games set to be one of the most spectacular and innovative Games of all time, we thought this was a fitting event to commemorate on Australia's first-ever stamp-coin," Leahy said.