1930 Penny, with a full central diamond and six plump pearls

Examining a 1930 Penny is a three-point process.

Start off by looking at the coin in the flesh using just the naked eye. A truly great coin will always look good to the unaided eye.

This coin has strong upper and lower scrolls. The obverse and reverse fields are reflective and very smooth with even, handsome brown toning. Moving the obverse through the light you can see the central diamond and a complete lower band of the crown. You also observe the strong design details of the monarch's robes.

Now take up the magnifying glass.

The eye glass re-confirms what we have seen to the naked eye ... and much more.

This coin has a full central diamond that leaps out and knocks you in the eye. The oval to the left of the central diamond is intact. With most 1930 Pennies the oval is only partially evident.

The coins also has six very plump pearls.

And lastly, take another look with the naked eye just to make sure that you have taken everything in.

The final assessment of this 1930 Penny confirms that it is a great coin and passes our three-point assessment with flying colours.

Four reasons why collectors love the 1930 Penny.  

Reason 1. One of the prime reasons for the popularity of the 1930 Penny is its financial reliability. It is a solid coin. And in times such as we have experienced in 2020 and even now in 2021 this genuinely counts.

Reason 2. In fact, we would go one step further and say that over the long term the 1930 Penny has probably been one of our most consistent and trustworthy numismatic performers.

Reason 3. Another reason for its popularity is that the coin is as Australian as you can get. Struck during the Great Depression, the 1930 Penny is the nation’s glamour coin and is unrivalled for popularity, enjoying a constant stream of demand unmatched by any other numismatic rarity.

Reason 4. The coin is an industry phenomenon, for in a market that is quality focused it is interesting to note that the 1930 Penny is keenly sought irrespective of its quality ranking. And growth over the mid to long term has been significant across all quality levels.

Well circulated (Fine) 1930 Pennies were selling for £50 in the 1950s. A decade later, by decimal changeover, the coins were fetching £255 ($510). By 1988, Australia's Bicentenary, a Fine 1930 Penny had reached $6000. The turn of the century saw 1930 Penny prices move to a minimum of $13,000. Twenty years later prices have more than doubled.

And with a 100th anniversary a decade away, the push to acquire Australia’s favourite Penny is really on.

Strong date, crisp upper and lower scrolls, uniform inner beading and handsome chestnut toning. A 1930 Penny that presents well and that you would be proud to show your family and friends.

A full central diamond and six plump pearls is just the start. The oval to the left of the central diamond is complete, as is the lower band of the crown. Reflective fields with minimal marks in the fields.

A Guide to Grading

About Fine to Fine - the average 1930 Penny is found in a quality level of About Fine to Fine with an obliterated central diamond and five or six flattened pearls.

Good Fine - a Good Fine 1930 Penny is the next step up for quality. The coin will have just one side of the central diamond showing and six pearls, some of which may be slightly flattened.

About Very Fine - moving up the quality scale to about Very Fine. The coin will have two sides of the central diamond showing and six clear pearls.

Nearly Very Fine – as the description infers this coin just misses out with a Very Fine ranking, the key being the central diamond which has three just sides showing.

Very Fine - to the ultimate quality of Very Fine which has a full central diamond, showing complete four sides, and six plump pearls in the crown.