Australian Coins

An Australian 1990 (Western Australia) Ten Dollar coin is one of a series of 9 silver coins released annually between 1985 and 1993 featuring each of the six states and two territories of Australia, plus one for the Bicentenary, as non-circulating legal tender (NCLT). An Australian 1990 (Western Australia) Ten Dollar coin (silver uncirculated), in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $25 AUD. There were 28,133 minted. An Australian 1990 (Western Australia) Ten Dollar coin (Proof in silver), in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $35 AUD. There were 29,089 minted. A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

These coins are potentially still in circulation so, unless they are part of a Proof or Uncirculated mint set or are individual Proof or Uncirculated coins and in absolute mint condition, they are worth 5 cents.

An Australian 1966 cupro-nickel 5 cent coin (Elizabeth II)(minted in Canberra), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $7 AUD.

There were 45.384 million minted.

An Australian 1966 cupro-nickel 5 cent coin (Elizabeth II)(minted in London), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $6 AUD.

There were 30 million minted.

An Australian 1966 cupro-nickel 5 cent coin (Elizabeth II)(Proof)(minted in Canberra), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $30 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

All Australian banknotes feature famous or historically significant Australians on them.

The new polymer Fifty Dollar note released from 1995 onwards, has David Unaipon (Inventor, preacher & author) on the front, and Dame Edith Cowan (Social worker, politician & feminist) on the back.

David Unaipon was awarded many patents for his mechanical inventions. He wrote many articles for newspapers and magazines, and recorded in a book, many traditional Aboriginal stories.

He had an unusual belief in a similarity between traditional Aboriginal and Christian beliefs, and furthered the cause of Aboriginal Welfare in Australia.

Australia's current currency is made up of the 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Dollar notes.

General circulation coins include the 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins and the 1 and 2 Dollar coins.

The Australian 1 and 2 cent coins were withdrawn from circulation in 1992.

These coins are potentially still in circulation so, unless they are part of a Proof or Uncirculated mint set or are individual Proof or Uncirculated coins and in absolute mint condition, they are worth 50 cents.

An Australian 1976 cupro-nickel 50 cent coin (Elizabeth II), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $12 AUD.

There were 27.280 million minted.

An Australian 1976 cupro-nickel 50 cent coin (Elizabeth II)(Proof), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $15 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

An Australian 1926 sterling silver Sixpence (George V), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $435 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $6 to $120 AUD.

There were 3.609 million minted.

An Australian 1926 sterling silver Sixpence (George V)(Proof), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $40,000 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

With the possible exception of traders tokens (with the traders business name on them), there were no "Australian" pennies minted prior to 1911.

The only Pennies circulating in Australia prior to 1911 were British Pennies.

An Australian 1950 bronze Penny (George VI)(minted in Melbourne - no mintmark), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $55 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $0.50 to $14 AUD.

There were 36.358 million minted.

An Australian 1950 bronze Penny (George VI)(minted in Perth - mintmark = Y.), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $180 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $1 to $38 AUD.

There were 21.488 million minted.

An Australian 1950 bronze Penny (George VI)(Proof)(minted in Perth - mintmark = Y.), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $50,000 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

Traditional banknotes are printed on cotton paper, which can be torn, creased and destroyed by washing.

Polymer banknotes are made from a type of polypropylene plastic which is very durable.

The Royal Australian Mint (RAM) uses a variety of "fonts" on Australian coins, but the information is confidential so as not to make it any easier for counterfeiters.

In view of their minimal purchasing power, the Australian 1 and 2 cent coins had became virtually worthless and considering their value, they were relatively expensive to make.

The last Australian 1 cent coins were put into general circulation in 1990 and the last 2 cent coins were put into general circulation in 1989. They were both progressively withdrawn from circulation in 1994 and all prices rounded off to the nearest 5 cents.

The Australian 1 and 2 cent coins have not been de-monetised and are still considered to be legal tender and can be deposited in banks.

According to the Australian Currency Act of 1965, 1 and 2 cent coins are legal tender if, when submitted for payment, they do not exceed a combined value of 20 cents. There may be problems in getting a business to accept them however.

The one cent coin was minted for "Mint Packs" only in 1991.

The two cent coin was minted for "Mint Packs" only in 1990 and 1991.

The only decimal copper coins used in Australia were the one and two cent coins.

The 1943 Australian Shilling featured King George VI on the obverse with the inscription "GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX : F : D : IND : IMP" around the edge, designed by Thomas H Paget. The expression is abbreviated Latin meaning - "George VI by the Grace of God, King of the British territories, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India". The reverse features a Merino sheeps head with the words "AUSTRALIA" across the top edge and "* SHILLING . 1943 *" around the bottom edge, designed by George Kruger Gray. From 1911 to 1945, the Shilling's composition was 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. They had a milled edge, weighed 5.65 grams and were 23.5 mm in diameter. There were 1.58 million minted in Melbourne and 16 million minted in San Francsico.

I cannot find any documented occurrence of this error. You may have a genuine curiosity.

Any coin with a "genuine" minting flaw would have some value, above the usual, as a collectible coin.

Genuinely flawed coins are not necessarily known about or documented until somebody turns up with one, since they are an "accident" of the minting process, and have escaped detection during quality control at the mint therefore, a valuation cannot be anticipated.

A reputable coin dealer should be able to identify and confirm the coin as genuine and make a valuation.

The most obvious thing to look for would be folds or creases which have been made in the past. The edges may no longer be sharp. Mint condition notes have a crispness about them too which circulated notes do not.

Assuming that the coins are in reasonably good condition, and that they are general circulation coins rather than "Proof" or "error" coins, it would go something like this, in no particular order -

Halfpenny - 1923, 1915, 1918 and 1939.

Penny - 1920 (no dots), 1930, 1925 and 1946.

Threepence - 1915, 1912, 1914, 1923 and 1942M.

Sixpence - 1918, 1922, 1924, 1939, 1952 and 1953.

Shilling - 1915, 1915H, 1921*, 1933, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1924, 1939 and 1940.

Florin - 1914H, 1915, 1932, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915H, 1919M and 1933.

Apart from the obvious detail that it has King George VI on the obverse, Commonwealth of Australia, One Crown, 1937 and a Crown on the reverse, it is 38.5mm in diameter and made from 92.5% silver?

It will be in some sort of a case or other protective packaging with a reference to the coin being of Proof quality, and possibly a certificate of authenticity.

The flat surfaces of the coin will have a mirror finish to it and there will be no dents, scratches or wear, maybe a little discolouring due to age.

There were only 100 of them minted, and being made from Sterling silver, they would have been very expensive to buy in 1937.

The general circulation coin is not minted to such a high quality finish as the Proof coin and is very likely to have been in circulation at least very briefly and will have some indication of circulation such as dents, scratches and wear on the surface. There were 1.008 million general circulation coins minted.

The only "Australian" Sovereigns were minted at the Sydney Mint between 1853 and 1870. These have "SYDNEY MINNT" and "AUSTRALIA" clearly inscribed on the reverse.

Any other Sovereign circulating in Australia would have been a British Sovereign minted to the British pattern. These may have been minted in either the London, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney Mints.

An Australian 1925 sterling silver Threepence (George V), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $500 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $3 to $135 AUD.

There were 4.347 million minted.

An Australian 1925 sterling silver Threepence (George V)(Proof), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $35,000 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

An Australian 1914 Threepence, uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $2,650 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $20 to $575 AUD.

There were 1.6 million minted.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

I suggest not, otherwise it would be documented in coin catalogues.

The Australian 1920 "no dot" Penny is considered to be rare at any time. On a scale of 1 to 10, it is rated at a 7.

If you have an Australian 1920 "no dot" Penny with a genuine minting flaw, wrap it up very carefully and take it to a reputable coin dealer for authentication and valuation.

Yes there are. There are replicas made of many rare coins and they should have something on them that indicates they are a legal copy or replica as distinct from a forgery.

This is one reason why it is so important to have any valuable coin you might be considering, checked and authenticated by a reputable coin dealer.

Replica Pennies go for a few Dollars.

There was no Australian currency prior to 1911. What you probably have is a traders token. There were several One Penny tokens minted in 1858 for various Melbourne traders. You may have something of value, if you can identify the token properly.

We call it money too. 100 cents = 1 Australian Dollar

An Australian 1989 Twenty Dollar note (Phillips/Fraser)(serial EVJ to EYD), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch anything up to $145 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $28 to $50 AUD.

Any banknote with a "genuine" printing flaw would have some value, above the usual, as a collectible banknote.

Genuinely flawed banknotes are not necessarily known about or documented until somebody turns up with one, since they are an "accident" of the printing process, and have escaped detection during quality control at the printers therefore, a valuation cannot be anticipated.

Any valuation would also depend on the nature and extent of the printing error.

A reputable coin dealer should be able to identify and confirm the banknote as genuine and make a valuation.

The collector value of a coin is lost when the coin is modified. Any value would be associated with the brooch.