Top 10 most valuable and rare pre-decimal Australian circulating coins
By CAA | Thursday, 9 January 2020
Gold and sovereign coins were intentionally excluded from this list since they will have their own top 10. Here's the top 10 most rare and valuable pre-decimal australian circulating coins sorted by denomination and date:
Halfpenny 1915 - H
Minted at only 720,000 examples, the H mint mark is visible under the lower scroll on reverse to indicate that the coin was produced at the Heaton mint in London.
In 2015, a NGC MS-64 example was sold for AUD$21,065.59 by International Auctions Galleries.
Half penny 1915 price guide and values
Halfpenny 1916 - I - Mule
Approximately 10 examples of the 1916 half penny mule are known to exist and all are in circulated condition. While the Calcutta Mint was striking the Indian quarter annas and the Australia half penny 1916, obverse dies from both coins were paired creating the mule. The best certified example known is a PCGS EF Genuine - Damaged. Read more ».
In June 2011, at auction, a ungraded one described as aVF (~EF) for AUD$81,550. If a uncirculated example is found, it will probably reach more than AUD$200,000.
Half penny 1916 price guide and values
Halfpenny 1923
Most of the half-penny coins produced in 1923 in Sydney bore the date 1922. Only 3 pairs of dies were used at the Melbourne Mint to produce 480,000 1923 dated half-penny coins. But because of the dies didn't last long, the mintage of this coin is estimated at 15,000 examples, but a lot less than that are known today, especially in Mint State condition.
An NGC AU-58 example sold in April 2011 at auction for around AUD$20,000. Finest certified example known is PCGS MS-63 Brown.
Half penny 1923 - Australian Coins Price Guide and Values
Penny 1920
Several varieties of the 1920 penny exist mostly regarding the position of the dot(s) on reverse and the Indian or English obverses.
The best certified example known is a PCGS MS-66 Red and Brown - Dot Above Bottom Scroll - Indian Obverse - which sold for nearly $AUD41,000 at auction in September 2014.
Penny 1920 price guide and values
Penny 1930
The most famous of all the Australian Commonwealth circulating coins, the 1930 pre-decimal penny, was minted at around 3,000 examples. At the end of the 1930, the Mint made the dies for a 1930 penny for specimens and proofs striking. But these dies were also used in 1931, intentionally or not, to produce a low amount of circulating coins. The English Obverse variety is less common than the English one.
The best certified example known is a PCGS AU-50 (English Obverse) which sold for $AUD86,000 on April 14, 2016. If a uncirculated example is found, it will probably reach more than AUD$125,000.
Penny 1930 price guide and values
Threepence 1922 - 2 over 1
This coin is the rarest silver pre-decimal circulating coin. The best certified example known, among the 30 examples between NGC and PCGS, is in AU-58 condition. A 1922 overdate threepence example described as aUNC sold at International Auction Galleries on September 5, 2010 for AUD$130,000. Another one sold as aEF/gEF in March 2009 for AUD$108,345.
Threepence 1922 - 2/1 price guide and values
Shilling 1915
The silver 1915 shilling was struck at the Heaton Mint (H variety - 500,000 minted) and London Mint (800,000 minted).
A NGC MS-65 1915 no mint mark shilling sold for AUD$23,367.54 in 2015 by International Auctions Galleries.
Shilling 1915 - price guide and values
Florin 1914 - H
The silver 1914 H florin was struck at the Heaton Mint at 500,000 copies. Like the 1915 florin, this silver coin is very scarce in Mint State condition.
A PCGS MS-65 1914-H florin sold for about AUD$22,000 in January 2007 at auction.
Florin 1914 - H price guide and values
Florin 1915
Like the 1915 shilling, the silver 1915 florin was struck at the Heaton Mint (H variety - 750,000 minted) and London Mint (500,000 minted). Only the 1932 and 1933 florin have a lower mintage than 1915.
In 2015, a NGC MS-66 not mint mark graded one was sold for AUD$42,061.57 by International Auctions Galleries. A PCGS MS-65 1915-H florin sold for AUD$22,372 on August 11, 2016 at auction.
Florin 1915 - price guide and values
Florin 1932
Very scarce in Mint State: only about 20 certified PCGS and NGC coins exist in uncirculated condition.
In 2015, a NGC MS-64 graded one was sold for AUD$28,041.05 by International Auctions Galleries. AU examples sell for about AUD$1,500 to AUD$2,000 each.
Florin 1932 - price guide and values
Honorable mentions and key dates
Halfpenny
Penny
Threepence
Sixpence
For all values, visist the Australian coins price guide or visit the auctions prices realized of certified coins.
