1930 Penny with a full central diamond and six very plump pearls (and our New Year bonus offer of a 1923 Halfpenny)

Examining a 1930 Penny is a three-point process.

Step 1 is to look at the coin in the flesh using just the naked eye. A truly great coin will always look good to the unaided eye. And this coin is a beauty!

Looking at the reverse, the fields are highly reflective and very smooth with even, handsome chestnut toning. The legend 'COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA' and date '1930' are powerful. The inner beading is strong and well defined, so too the inner and outer lines that border the beading. 

Looking at the obverse, and moving the coin through the light you see the complete lower band of the crown. You also observe the strong design details of the monarch's robes and the minimal wear to the king's eyebrow and moustache. We also comment on the highly reflective obverse fields and the handsome chestnut toning.

Step 2 is to take up a magnifying glass and examine the coin in detail. The eye glass re-confirms what we have seen to the naked eye ... and much, much more.

This coin has a complete central diamond that is strong and prominent. There are six very plump pearls and the area that contained the elusive seventh and eighth pearl is flattened but evident. The lower band of the crown is complete and there is minimal wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

These details confirm the premium grading level of Very Fine-Plus.

Step 3 is to re-visit the coin with the naked eye just to make sure that you have taken everything in.

Place the coin in the palm of your hand and make a final assessment. This is a fabulous 1930 Penny 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 are currently experiencing, 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 less than a decade away, the push to acquire Australia’s favourite Penny is really on.