Swan Goose 1967 Meszaros Dollar
By CAA | Thursday, 17 March 2022
Last update: November 2, 2023
To replace pre-decimal coins circulating in Australia, official decimal circulating coins were produced at the Canberra, London, Perth and Melbourne mints and showing the new designs by Stuart Devlin in 1966. New designs were needed for the 1, 2, 5, 10 , 20 and 50 cents denominations, but not for the 1 dollar denomination, which surprised collectors.
In 1967, a Goose or Swan 1-dollar unofficial coin was issued. The idea came from the Australian Coin Review magazine who ran a contest. Readers could create a design to the magazine and the winning one was submitted to the Australian government. The winner, Andor Meszaros, designed a reverse with a Swan, Australia 1967 and his initials. It is often categorized as a modern fantasy or an unofficial pattern dollar.
At the time, the authorities mostly ignored ignored it. Australian Coin Review organizers decided to produce the coin with the help of the engraver John Pinches who also struck it in silver (uncirculated and proof versions were available) and gold. John's house at Mount Macedon in Victoria was destroyed with some of these coins along with the dies used to strike the coins. The prices range for silver examples sold in maroon coloured case were from $10 (uncirculated) to $13.50 (Proof).
Specifications
- Mintage: 1,500 (Uncirculated), 750 (Proof Silver) and 10 (Gold)
- Edge: Milled (Uncirculated) and Plain (Proof and Gold)
- Diameter: 38 mm
- Weight: 28.7 g (Silver) and 40.3 g (Gold)
- Reference number: KM-XM2 (Silver) and KM-XM2a (Gold)
7 out of 10 gold coins still exist. 2 were lost in Victorian Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983 and another one was badly mutilated and destroyed. Counterfeit examples exist, mostly in silver.
Values and historical sales
Silver
- $3,675 - PCGS PR-66 - January 2022
- $4,150 - PCGS MS-68 - August 2017
- $3,000 - PCGS MS-68 - January 2017
- $2,700 - PCGS PR-67 CAM - June 2021
- $2,275 - PCGS PR-65 DCAM - April 2015
- $2,200 - NGC MS-67 - February 2022
- $2,000 - PCGS MS-64 - September 2021
- $1,750 - NGC PR-66 - April 2020
- $1,500 - PCGS MS-67 - January 2020
- $900 - NGC PR-63 - Septembre 2015
Gold
- $38,500 - Uncertified - October 2023
- $32,000 - Uncertified - November 2015
- $24,500 - Uncertified - March 2017
- $19,000 - Uncertified - August 2013
- $12,500 - Uncertified - July 2009
Pop report (PCGS)
- Silver Proof: 86
- Silver UNC: 64
- Gold: 1