Performance of Rare Australian Coins
It’s well known that rare collectible coins have great investment potential and Australian rare coins are no exception. In fact some examples, such as the famous 1930 penny, are among the rarest and most valuable collectible coins to be found. In times of economic instability, investors look towards precious metals and coins for security. Coins can be volatile in the market but are often regularly seen to outperform precious metals.
While uncirculated coins will naturally have the highest value, there is plenty of value to be found in coins of lower quality. For example, a coin that is fairly common in the marketplace, such as an 1889 gold sovereign of average condition, will probably attract a price around 10% higher than the gold it contains. The value will certainly increase with the quality of the coin. Find the same coin in near mint condition and you can expect a return four or more times higher than the intrinsic gold value. In the market for Australian sovereigns, there are around 250 known different date and mint mark combinations, 150 of these are considered common, the rest are scarce to rare.
Gold coins are not the only ones of value to astute collectors. If you can manage to come across an average 1930 penny, expect a return in excess of $20,000. Only around 2000 of these coins made it into circulation and are now very rare. Even more so the proof edition of this coin, only six were produced. Three of these are now in private collections and are valued at over $1,000,000.
It’s not age that has the greatest influence on the value of coins, but rarity and demand in the marketplace. Australian half sovereigns can be more valuable than ancient coins. In the last 5 years some uncirculated half sovereigns have more than doubled in value. In the same period, uncirculated type 2 Adelaide pounds (not as rare as the type 1), have increased from $28,000, to $120,000.
The table below lists some examples of the investment performance of some Australian coins in recent years. For more up-to-date information on coin values, please visit the Australian Rare Coin Ready Reckoner.
| Value 1965 |
Value 1999 |
Value 2005 |
|
| 1813 – NSW Holey Dollar… VF/EF | 600 | 37,500 | 125,000 |
| 1852 – Type 1 Adelaide Pound… EF | 90 | 20,000 | 95,000 |
| 1855 – Type 1 Sydney Mint Sov… aUNC | 230 | 25,000 | 45,000 |
| 1923 – Australian Half Penny… VF | 16 | 1,650 | 4,5000 |
| 1930 – Australian Penny… VF | 180 | 18,500 | 45,000 |
| 1915 – Australian Shilling… BrUNC | 42 | 8,500 | 15,000 |
| 1938 – Australian Proof Crown… FDC | 150 | 16,500 | 40,000 |
| 1932 – Australian Florin… BrUNC | 650 | 17,500 | 24,000 |
| 1933 – Australian Shilling… BrUNC | 80 | 9,500 | 17,500 |
| 1923 – Australian Halfpenny… gEF | 47 | 7,500 | 27,500 |
| 1919 – Aus. Sixpence… BrUNC | 70 | 1,950 | 3,500 |
| 1893S – Victoria Proof Sov… FDC | 300 | 21,000 | 55,000 |
| 1914 – Florin… BrUNC | 34 | 4,500 | 8,500 |
