What is the most valuable Australian coin?

Answer 1

An Australian 1930 Penny is the rarest coin that has ever been released into general circulation in Australian history. Only 3,000 were minted and of those, 1,500 still exist and are trading in todays market. They are still arguing about why the 1930 Penny was released at all.

There are only 6 proof coins known to exist, 3 in museums and 3 in private collections.

Depending on who you choose to believe, a proof 1930 Penny might go for anything between $250,000 and $500,000 AUD. One of the private collectors has recently declined an offer of $1,000,000 AUD for his proof coin. Another has accepted an offer of $650,000 AUD.

An uncirculated 1930 Australian Penny (non-Proof) in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $150,000 AUD. If it is in less than mint condition, it might fetch as little as $10,000 to $15,000 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation. Authentication and verification of such coins is vital.

The Australian 1930 Penny has recently been described as the "Holy Grail" of the coin collecting world.

Answer 2

An Australian 1930 Penny is the rarest coin that has ever been released into general circulation in Australian history. Only 3,000 were minted and of those, 1,500 still exist and are trading in todays market. They are still arguing about why the 1930 Penny was released at all. There are only 6 proof coins known to exist, 3 in museums and 3 in private collections. Depending on who you choose to believe, a proof 1930 Penny might go for anything between $250,000 and $500,000 AUD. One of the private collectors has recently declined an offer of $1,000,000 AUD for his proof coin. An uncirculated 1930 penny in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $150,000 AUD. If it is in less than mint condition, it might fetch as little as $10,000 to $15,000 AUD. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation. Authentication and verification of such coins is vital. The Australian 1930 Penny has recently been described as the "Holy Grail" of the coin collecting world.

Answer 3

An Australian 1930 Penny is the rarest coin that has ever been released into general circulation in Australian history. Only 3,000 were minted and of those, 1,500 still exist and are trading in todays market. They are still arguing about why the 1930 Penny was released at all. There are only 6 proof coins known to exist, 3 in museums and 3 in private collections. Depending on who you choose to believe, a proof 1930 Penny might go for anything between $250,000 and $500,000 AUD. One of the private collectors has recently declined an offer of $1,000,000 AUD for his proof coin. An uncirculated 1930 penny in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $150,000 AUD. If it is in less than mint condition, it might fetch as little as $10,000 to $15,000 AUD. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation. Authentication and verification of such coins is vital. The Australian 1930 Penny has recently been described as the "Holy Grail" of the coin collecting world.

Answer 4

The Commonwealth of Australia did not have its own currency until 1910, well after Federation.

Of the Commonwealth of Australia coins minted for general circulation, the rarest coin would be the 1930 Penny of which there were only 3,000 minted.

The second rarest coin would be the 1923 Halfpenny of which there were only 15,000 minted.

Answer 5

On a scale of 1 to 10, "scarce" is 5, "rare" is 7 and "very rare" is 8. The degree of rarity is calculated by the coin dealer community based on how many times they see a particular coin on the market.

"Rare" and "valuable" should not be confused, a coin can be one or the other or both. A rare coin in poor condition will not be all that valuable.

The following does not include Proof coins.

Halfpenny

• 1916 "Mule" is "very rare" - Australian reverse, Indian obverse (10 known to exist).
• 1923 is "rare".
• 1915, 1918 and 1939 (with Kangaroo reverse) are "scarce".

Penny

• 1937 Pattern is "very rare" (10 thought to have been minted).
• 1920 (no dots) and 1930 are "rare".
• 1925 and 1926 are "scarce".

Threepence

• 1937 Pattern is "very rare" (15 thought to have been minted).
• 1915 and 1922/21 (overdate) are "rare".
• 1912, 1914, 1923, 1942 (minted in Melbourne) are "scarce".

Sixpence

• 1918 is "rare".
• 1922, 1924, 1939, 1952 and 1953 are "scarce".

Shilling

• 1937 Pattern is "very rare" (20 thought to have been minted).
• 1915 (minted in London), 1915 (minted at Heaton), 1921 and 1933 are "rare".
• 1911, 1912, 1914, 1924, 1939 and 1940 are "scarce".

Florin - (Two Shillings)

• 1937 Pattern is "very rare" (15 thought to have been minted).
• 1914 (minted at Heaton), 1915 and 1932 are "rare'.
• 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915 (minted at Heaton), 1919 (minted in Melbourne), 1933 and 1939 are "scarce".

These are what are currently considered to be Australia's rarest predecimal coins. It includes only Australian predecimal coins issued from 1910 to 1964 irrespective of where they were minted.

It is unlikely that you will ever see one of these coins outside of a museum or the collection of a very wealthy collector.

The "Pattern" and "Mule" coins should never have left the Mint.

Answer 6

As a general rule, there are no general circulation Australian decimal coins that could be considered to be rare.

Without peeling off a catalogue worth of entries -

Halfpenny - 1916 (mule) and 1923.

Penny - 1937 (pattern), 1920 (no dots) and 1930.

Threepence - 1937 (pattern), 1915 and 1922/1 (overdate).

Sixpence - 1918.

Shilling - 1937 (pattern), 1915, 1915H and 1933.

Florin - 1937 (pattern), 1914H, 1915 and 1932.

Answer 7

No. Although they are no longer in circulation, the Australian 1 and 2 cent coins are still legal tender and are worth 1 and 2 cents respectively. All years of issue were minted in the 10's of millions.

With very few exceptions, Australian 1 and 2 cent coins would have to be in absolute mint condition to have any collector value at all.

1966 1 cent coin in absolute mint condition, minted at the Perth Mint, could get up to $18 AUD. The second whisker on the "sugar glider" will be blunted.

1968 1 cent coin in absolute mint condition, minted at the Melbourne Mint, could get up to $28 AUD. The first whisker on the "sugar glider" will be blunted.

1967 2 cent coin in absolute mint condition, minted at the Perth Mint, could get up to $100 AUD. The first right claw on the "frill-necked lizard" will be blunted and, the designers initials, SD (Stuart Devlin) will be missing.

1968 2 cent coin in absolute mint condition, minted at the Perth Mint, could get up to $100 AUD. The first right claw on the "frill-necked lizard" will be blunted and, the designers initials, SD (Stuart Devlin) will be missing.

NOTE - When referring to the collector value of coins, "rare" and "valuable" do not necessarily go together.