Five Aussie coins that are worth a pretty penny

Money
Is the change in your pocket worth a fortune?
Aussie-coins
Australia’s rarest coin, the 1930 penny proof, sold for $225,000 in 1998.

Only six proof versions of the 1930 penny are known to exist: three have private owners, one in the Museum of Victoria, the National Gallery of South Australia and the British Museum.

While you’re unlikely to come across a 1930 proof penny in your loose change, many currently circulating coins contain errors or faults made during the minting process which can make them valuable to numismatists (coin collectors).

Faults include incorrect alignment, the use of mismatched dies (known as mules), missing dates and strike errors.

Check your loose change drawer for these minting faults that could earn you a nice chunk of change.

2007 double obverse five cent coin

This coin from 2007 was incorrectly minted with the Queen’s head on both sides.

Value: up to $5600 for mint condition.

Rabbit ears $1 coin

A common mistake on the tails side of a $1 coin can lead to the top kangaroo appearing to have rabbit ears.

Value: approximately $30.

2000 mule variation double ringed $1 coin

In 2000 a batch of $1 coins were accidentally stamped with the head from a 10c coin. This means the heads stamp is slightly smaller than usual, giving it double rings around the edges.

Value:
up to $5000 for mint condition.

2001 federation upset error

An ‘upset error’ occurs when the Queens head side of the coin is rotated instead of the same upright position as the other side of the coin.

Multiple batches of the 2001 Federation $1 contain the upset error with the Queen’s head struck sideways and upside down on different coins.

Value: approximately $100

2000 incuse flag Millennium 50 cent coin

While not mint fault, the incuse version of the Millennium 50 cent coin is still valuable.

In 2000, more than 16 million commemorative Millennium 50 cent coins were issued for circulation. The Union Jack is recessed (or incused) on less than 1% of the coins but raised on all others.

Value: up to $1000 for mint condition.

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and not as specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice and does not take into account any person’s particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives, financial situations and needs.

Related topics

  • The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.

    Insurance products (excluding Travel Insurance) are issued by RACQ Insurance Limited ABN 50 009 704 152 (RACQ). Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and any applicable Supplementary PDS before making a purchase decision on this product. You can also access our Target Market Determinations on this website.

    Banking and loan products issued by Members Banking Group Limited ABN 83 087 651 054 AFSL/Australian credit licence 241195 trading as RACQ Bank. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and lending policies apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the disclosure documents for your selected product or service, including the Financial Services Guide and the Terms and Conditions, and consider if appropriate for you before deciding.

    Except for RACQ Bank, any RACQ entity referred to on this page is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). That entity’s obligations do not represent deposits or other liabilities of RACQ Bank. RACQ Bank does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of that entity, unless noted otherwise.

    RACQ Operations Pty Ltd (ABN 80 009 663 414 AR 000234978) and Members Travel Group Pty Ltd (ABN 45 144 538 803 AR 000432492) are acting as an Authorised Representative of the issuer of the insurance, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548). Any advice set out above is general in nature only, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before purchasing any travel products, please consider the RACQ Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determinations (TMDs) that apply to these products. Whilst the PDS outlines the Terms and Conditions of these products, the TMDs outline the intended class of customers that comprise the target market for these travel products. This will allow you to consider which products best suit your objectives, financial situation and needs and consider the products appropriateness to your personal circumstances. TMDs also outline matters involving the distribution and the review of these products. The PDS, Supplementary PDS and TMDs for each travel product can be found here.