In an article published in the Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia 2005, renowned numismatist Paul Holland contends that the Perth Mint proofs seemed to have been created for unaided vision. The point here is that a collector would not need an eye-glass to take in their beauty.

He also contends that the Royal Mint's 1951 proofs from the Royal Mint London came to be viewed as the best possible model for what the Perth Mint bronze proofs should look like. It is a fact that the Royal Mint's 1951 copper proofs, as a general rule, are stunning. Visually impactful.

When you look at this Proof 1952 Penny you can't help but feel that Holland was spot-on with his assessment.

When the Perth Mint struck a proof penny, its intention was to create a single, copper masterpiece. Coining perfection. Perfection in the dies. Wire brushed so that they were razor sharp. Perfection in the design, highly detailed, expertly crafted. Perfection in the fields, achieved by hand selecting unblemished blanks, polished to create a mirror shine.

Perfection in the edges to encase the design … exactly what a picture frame does to a canvas. A proof coin was never intended to be used in every-day use, tucked away in a purse. Or popped into a pocket.

Proof coins were struck to be preserved in the mint's archives as a record of Australia’s coining history, time-capsuled for future generations. Proof coins were also used to showcase a mint’s coining skills, to display at major worldwide Exhibitions or sent to other mint’s and public institutions. 

The rarity of the Perth Mint proofs was confirmed in 1995 in an article published in the NAA journal (Volume 8) by John Sharples, the then Curator of Australia’s Numismatic Archives. He examined the distribution of proof coins recorded in Perth Mint communications and records over the period 1940 – 1954.

He found evidence that fifteen proof pennies were struck at the Perth Mint in 1952.

And while we might sight a Proof 1952 Penny on the market every three to four years this coin, as the finest of its year, is a once in a lifetime buying opportunity.

He noted that two private collectors (most likely Syd Hagley and Ray Jewell) received examples of the pre-1955 proof coins, such was the influence of these collectors. The balance of the mintage, however, was destined for the mint's own archives with the majority sent to Public Collections and Numismatic Societies. The official list authorised to receive Perth proofs were the Australian War Memorial, Royal Mint London, British Museum, Royal Mint Melbourne, Japan Mint, National Gallery SA, Art Gallery WA, National Gallery Victoria, Victorian Numismatic Society, South Australian Numismatic Society and the Australian Numismatic Society. 

That the bulk of the mintage was gifted to institutions is the very reason why they are so rare in today's collector market.

The discovery of vast gold fields in Coolgardie in 1892 and Kalgoorlie in 1893 triggered a Gold Rush in Western Australia and convinced the British Government to authorise the opening of a mint in Perth. It was the third branch of the Royal Mint London opened in Australia following the establishment of the Sydney Mint in 1855 and the Melbourne Mint in 1872.

The coining presses at the Perth Mint ground to a halt in 1931 and remained so for the next nine years. Then early in November 1940, the Australian Government requested Perth to undertake the coining of Australia’s bronze pennies and halfpennies.

The Melbourne Mint had been called upon to do munitions work during World War II and assistance was sought from the Perth Mint to meet Australia’s currency requirements.

The Perth Mint continued to strike copper coins until 1964, when two years later Australia converted to decimal currency.

Established as a branch of the Royal Mint London, the Perth Mint adopted the practices of its master and struck proofs of those coins being struck for circulation.

In accordance with minting traditions the Perth Mint struck proof record pieces of those coins being struck for circulation. There was no hint of commercialism in the production of these pieces.

Posterity, the preservation of Australia’s coining heritage … that and a passion for numismatics were the driving forces behind their striking. The collector market per se was denied access to the coins.

This 1923 Sovereign was struck as a Coin of Record at the Sydney Mint. The coin is unique.

To understand the motivations of the Sydney Mint in producing Coins of Record. And to know the numbers struck, is to recognise the value and outstanding qualities of this 1923 Sovereign.

The Sydney Mint began operations in 1855, issuing circulating gold sovereigns and half sovereigns. The mint did not have the machinery or the skills to strike Coins of Record, that responsibility initially taken up by the Royal Mint in London up to, and including, 1870. 

The Sydney Mint took control of its proof issues in 1871. Its approach to production of Coins of Record throughout its lifetime was conservative. The mintages were tiny. And the years in which they were struck were thinly spread.

Only four years out of seventeen in the Young Head era (1871 to 1887). Two years in the Jubilee era (1887 to 1893), one in the Veiled Head era (1893 to 1901). One in Edward VII (1902 to 1910) and five in the George V era (1911 to 1926). 

Summarising above. From 1871, when the Sydney Mint took control of production of its special strikings until it closed in 1926, the mint struck Coins of Record in only thirteen years.

Of those thirteen years, five can boast unique pieces, 1871, 1879, 1883, 1920 and 1923, the first three occurring in the Young Head era, the latter in the George V era.

This 1923 Sydney Specimen Sovereign is one of the truly 'great' coins of Australian numismatics.

The Quartermaster Collection was owned by Queensland collector, Tom Hadley. He joined forces with rare coin dealer Barrie Winsor to form what is acknowledged as the most comprehensive collection of Australian gold coins ever formed. The program of acquisition took three decades, each coin hand selected to acquire the finest quality. Opportunities to upgrade, and to improve upon the quality, were taken up during this duration to achieve the ultimate grade, available at the time.

The Collection became a benchmark for Australian gold coins. And is still to this day the yardstick by which other coins are judged. Exhibited at the Royal Australian Mint Canberra in 2005 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Sydney Mint's opening, it was eventually sold at auction by Monetarium Sydney in June 2009.

This 1923 Sydney Specimen Sovereign became available in 1992 and was selected to become part of the Quartermaster Collection. The coin was especially struck as a Coin of Record at the Sydney Mint. 

Winsor knew this sovereign represented the ultimate quality. During the George V era, Coins of Record from the Sydney Mint were struck to a specimen finish. And this coin is indeed an immaculate coin, graded FDC, with a superb strike. 

Winsor also knew he had secured the ultimate rarity when he acquired this sovereign for it was believed unique. To this day, its unique status holds. There are no other known examples.

The Sydney Mint was the nation's first gold coin producer. During its lifetime, the mint processed more than 1200 tons of native gold, converting it into currency. In addition to producing circulating coins, the Sydney Mint was occasionally called upon to create special presentation pieces. The coins are technically referred to as 'Coins of Record'. 

A Coin of Record would be gifted to a monarch, a dignitary or sent to an influential collector. Or put on display at an international trade fair. And if the Royal Mint London requested a sovereign for its archives, it was yet another occasion when a Coin of Record would be minted. Situations where a circulation strike would simply not suffice. 

A Coin of Record is an artistic interpretation of coinage, a strikingly beautiful coin beyond ordinary currency. Individually crafted to a proof or specimen finish using special coining techniques to standards far exceeding that required of a circulating coin. (It is noted that during the George V era, all Coins of Record were struck to a specimen finish.)

Whereas production of circulating coinage was dictated by Government, Coins of Record were struck at the discretion of the mint master. The coins were not produced every year and, as they were individually created, the process was time consuming and the mintages minuscule. For Sydney Mint gold proofs, generally four pieces or less. There were years when only a single coin was struck.

Coins of Record of Australia's sovereigns and half sovereigns are visually stunning, distinguished by immaculate surfaces, either brilliant or satin depending on the strike. And it is their beauty and their ultra-exclusivity that drives demand. 

The coins are today a globally traded commodity, confirmed again at St James Auction in New York, January 2026.  

They are the crown jewels of coinage, adding glamour and exceptionality to any collection! 

The quest to define Australia's national identity through our currency began with the Kookaburra Pennies and Halfpennies.

It was Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage, a currency that was Australian in imagery, concept and form, produced in 1919, 1920 and 1921 at the Melbourne Mint. 

Coins with simple design elegance, produced for Australians by Australians. Avant-garde and adventurous, the historical significance of the kookaburra coins cannot be overstated.

This Square Penny was struck in the final year of testing at the Melbourne Mint - 1921 - and features a plump kookaburra with the words ‘AUSTRALIA’ AND ‘ONE PENNY’ above and below it.

The coin is referenced, Renniks Type 12. The design is unique to the date 1921. No other Square Penny has this bird.

It is extremely rare for we would be lucky to sight one, maybe two, Type 12 Kookaburra Pennies on the market every year. And it is affordable. 

We recently sold a 1919 Type 4 Kookaburra Penny, the price $95,000. Also sold, the 1919 Type 4 Kookaburra Sterling Silver Penny, the price $185,000.

While the rarity of the pieces validated the prices, the reality is not every collector wants to buy coins at this dollar level.

That's why the Type 12 is so popular. Affordable and yet still extremely rare. 

Rarity - one of an estimated thirty-five to forty known. On average, a Type 12 Kookaburra Penny would be offered every six to eight months.

Composition - Nickel 75% Copper 25%

Reverse - A design shared with the Type 2 Kookaburra Halfpenny, a plump bird resting on a short, thick branch, the word 'AUSTRALIA' curved, the penny denomination in one line across the base of the coin. 

Obverse - Uncrowned effigy of George V, designed by Australian sculptor, Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal, the initials 'BM' appearing on truncation, and shared with the Type 2 Kookaburra Halfpenny. The legend reads GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN:REX and appears on all the halfpennies Type 1 and Type 2 and the pennies Type 6 through to 12. The date '1921' appears below the portrait, an ornamental dot separating it from the legend. 

We have put together a set of Australia’s four classic coin rarities, the 1813 Holey Dollar and Dump, the 1852 Adelaide Pound and a 1921 Kookaburra Penny. Each coin conservatively priced, the set of four presented in a hand-crafted Anton Gerner Presentation case. A definite one-off. 

The Melbourne Mint commenced striking Australia's Commonwealth copper pennies in 1919.  No sooner had the mint started issuing coins, than it was directed by Treasury to commence testing an entirely new penny concept, a square coin made from cupro-nickel. 

The Melbourne Mint was established in 1872, and was a producer of gold and silver coins and had just commenced production of bronze pennies in 1919. While new to the mint, the striking of nickel coinage as legal tender had been incorporated into the Commonwealth's Coinage Act of 1909 (No. 6 of 1909), passed after Federation.

The period 1919 to 1921, sits squarely in the post–World War I period, the first years of peace after immense war-time loss. And an experimental era when Australia was rebuilding its national confidence and defining its own national identity through design. Or through whatever means it could. 

For many Australians, it was a time for breaking out, of questioning and changing old values and behaviour and enjoying the good life. It was a time of great change. People forgot the old and embraced the new in an attempt to leave the hardship and struggles of the war behind them. New technology was being created, like toasters and cars, things that today we take for granted. The fashion world was exploding, Australians embracing great change in their styles of dress.

Australians were identifying with their own culture, keen to lessen the emotional and cultural ties with Great Britain. The Government wanted to tap into this nationalistic sentiment and create a new, totally Australian coinage, the Kookaburra Penny and Kookaburra Halfpenny, envisaging coins that would be unique to Australia.

It was one of the instruments the Government believed would give us a greater awareness, and appreciation, of all things Australian. A mechanism to promote national spirit. 

The proposal was contentious in that King George V was depicted on the obverse without a crown. It is noted that all coins struck under the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia depicted a crowned monarch.

Contentious also the use of the word 'Australia' in the design and not 'Commonwealth of Australia'. It was a hard road to Federation, uniting the six colonies under one banner, involving decades of negotiation and intense debate. Ultimately, the six separate British colonies united under the banner Commonwealth of Australia on January 1, 1901. Again it is noted that Australia's bronze pennies and halfpennies issued by the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia acknowledged the nation's federated status in the legend. 

Trials commenced at the Melbourne Mint in 1919 and continued until 1921, the mint producing different designs, each a variation of the one theme of a kookaburra sitting on a branch and on the other side, an uncrowned portrait of George V. The test pieces ultimately passed to dignitaries and Government officials to assess their reaction. 

The program of testing did not move forward beyond 1921. And the coins did not move into production. It is believed that over the three-year period two hundred pieces, of various designs, were produced, of which we estimate, one hundred and fifty are available to collectors. 

The best thing for collectors is that the one hundred and fifty kookaburra coins do not bear the same design. The Melbourne Mint tested many different styles of both obverse and reverse introducing enormous interest, personal choice and procurement challenges into the series.

There is no consensus as to why the coins did not move into production. The resignation in 1920 of Treasurer, William Watts, a supporter of the Kookaburra coinage did not impact on the program as his replacement Sir Joseph Cook was strongly in favour. That vending machines required a circular coin is also refuted as is the claim that it was unpopular with the general population. 

Our view is that it was simply too soon in the national psyche.

While shaping our identity was politically expedient, uniting the states under the banner of Commonwealth of Australia was deemed a higher and more important priority. And the reality is the words 'Commonwealth of Australia' could never have been incorporated into the kookaburra design, given the size of the coins. 

The quest to define Australia's national identity began with the Kookaburra Pennies and Halfpennies. It was Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage, a currency that was Australian in imagery, concept and form. 

Their historical importance cannot be overstated. The coins clearly reflect where we were as a nation post-World War I. 

In 1919, the Government put forward a proposal to replace the round 'British-styled' penny and halfpenny in use at the time with completely new Australian coins. Proudly nationalistic, crafted on one side, with a kookaburra sitting on a branch, underneath the word 'AUSTRALIA' and on the other side, a portrait of George V.

It was Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage. A currency that was Australian in imagery, concept and form. Coins with simple design elegance, produced for Australians, by Australians, in 1919, 1920 and 1921. Eleven variations of the penny and two of the halfpenny were produced over three years, each a variation on the one kookaburra theme and each variation assigned a numeric design type, Type 1 to Type 13, to make it easy for collectors. 

The only denomination produced in 1919 was the penny, crafted on one side with a kookaburra sitting on a branch. And on the other side, an uncrowned portrait of George V. Four variations on the one theme were produced in 1919 and they are designated the Type 3, Type 4, Type 5 and Type 6 Kookaburra Pennies.

The Type 3 Kookaburra Penny is the most available relative to the other 1919 designs and that is not a criticism. Simply a statement of fact. For the Type 3 is still extremely scarce with one example coming up for sale every eighteen months to two years. The remaining 1919 pennies, the Type 4, Type 5 and Type 6, are so scarce that a waiting time might range from four to ten years which would exasperate even the most patient of buyers and stifle market interest. A market is created when buyers and sellers interact, driven by a mutual interest in exchanging goods. This interaction establishes a price based on supply and demand. The reality is that you can't have a market without supply and it is the Type 3 that creates the market for the 1919 Kookaburra coins and sustains and excites buyer interest in the series. 

Rarity - One of fifteen to twenty known examples. We estimate a Type 3 Kookaburra Penny would be offered every eighteen months to two years.

Composition - Nickel 75% Copper 25%

Reverse - The Type 3 has a unique reverse, the kookaburra design only used on this coin. The bird is slender, three feathers in the tail, the eye incuse.  And the issuing authority and value is presented in a unique style. The word 'AUSTRALIA' is slightly curved across the top of the coin, detailed in a serif font, the words  'ONE PENNY' over two lines in a contrasting modern, sleek sans serif font. This break from tradition in using two fonts was not used on any other coin. 

Obverse - Uncrowned effigy of George V was reduced from a metal die supplied by Australian manufacturer, Stokes & Son.  The legend reads, GEORGE V D. G. BRITT: OMN:REX. The date appears under the portrait with ornamental stops separating it from the legend. The obverse design, portrait and legend, is shared with the Type 4 and Type 5 Kookaburra Penny.

The Melbourne Mint commenced striking Australia's Commonwealth copper pennies in 1919.  No sooner had the mint started issuing coins, than it was directed by Treasury to commence testing an entirely new penny concept, a square coin made from cupro-nickel. 

The Melbourne Mint was established in 1872, and was a producer of gold and silver coins and had just commenced production of bronze pennies in 1919. While new to the mint, the striking of nickel coinage as legal tender had been incorporated into the Commonwealth's Coinage Act of 1909 (No. 6 of 1909), passed after Federation.

The period 1919 to 1921, sits squarely in the post–World War I period, the first years of peace after immense war-time loss. And an experimental era when Australia was rebuilding its national confidence and defining its own national identity through design. Or through whatever means it could. 

For many Australians, it was a time for breaking out, of questioning and changing old values and behaviour and enjoying the good life. It was a time of great change. People forgot the old and embraced the new in an attempt to leave the hardship and struggles of the war behind them. New technology was being created, like toasters and cars, things that today we take for granted. The fashion world was exploding, Australians embracing great change in their styles of dress.

Australians were identifying with their own culture, keen to lessen the emotional and cultural ties with Great Britain. The Government wanted to tap into this nationalistic sentiment and create a new, totally Australian coinage, the Kookaburra Penny and Kookaburra Halfpenny, envisaging coins that would be unique to Australia.

It was one of the instruments the Government believed would give us a greater awareness, and appreciation, of all things Australian. A mechanism to promote national spirit. 

The proposal was contentious in that King George V was depicted on the obverse without a crown. It is noted that all coins struck under the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia depicted a crowned monarch.

Contentious also the use of the word 'Australia' in the design and not 'Commonwealth of Australia'. It was a hard road to Federation, uniting the six colonies under one banner, involving decades of negotiation and intense debate. Ultimately, the six separate British colonies united under the banner Commonwealth of Australia on January 1, 1901. Again it is noted that Australia's bronze pennies and halfpennies issued by the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia acknowledged the nation's federated status in the legend. 

Trials commenced at the Melbourne Mint in 1919 and continued until 1921, the mint producing different designs, each a variation of the one theme of a kookaburra sitting on a branch and on the other side, an uncrowned portrait of George V. The test pieces ultimately passed to dignitaries and Government officials to assess their reaction. 

The program of testing did not move forward beyond 1921. And the coins did not move into production. It is believed that over the three-year period two hundred pieces, of various designs, were produced, of which we estimate, one hundred and fifty are available to collectors. 

There is no consensus as to why the coins did not move into production. The resignation in 1920 of Treasurer, William Watts, a supporter of the Kookaburra coinage did not impact on the program as his replacement Sir Joseph Cook was strongly in favour. That vending machines required a circular coin is also refuted as is the claim that it was unpopular with the general population. 

Our view is that it was simply too soon in the national psyche.

While shaping our identity was politically expedient, uniting the states under the banner of Commonwealth of Australia was deemed a higher and more important priority. And the reality is the words 'Commonwealth of Australia' could never have been incorporated into the kookaburra design, given the size of the coins. 

The quest to define Australia's national identity began with the Kookaburra Pennies and Halfpennies. It was Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage, a currency that was Australian in imagery, concept and form. 

Transitioning to a more independent identity commenced in 1937/1938. And was extended in 1966, when Australia changed to decimal currency. On the five denominations, one, two, five, ten and twenty cent, the word 'Australia' appeared on the obverse and animals native to Australia appeared on the reverse. 

For many collectors the fascination with the Kookaburra Penny and Halfpenny takes them on a journey to acquire more than one example. The coins are engaging and their rarity offers collectors the challenge they so often seek.

The first production run of Adelaide Pounds was short and eventful.  A cracking of the reverse die during the striking of the first fifty coins halted production. 

The impaired die, featuring a beaded inner circle, was replaced and production resumed, staff electing to use a die with a different design to that used in the first run. The second die featured a scalloped inner border. The move to use differently designed dies was profound for it clearly differentiates those coins struck in the first and second run.

In the second production run, pressure was relaxed on the edges to lengthen the die usage and re-focused on the central area of the design. The reduction in pressure on the edges meant that the edge perfection achieved in the first run of coins was simply not achievable. Most Adelaide Pounds from the second run therefore show some form of weakness in the edges, particularly  in the Government Assay Office area. Occasionally the weakness is exhibited all the way round. Due to the re-focus of pressure away from the edges and to the centre of the coin, the crown design is almost always well executed with flattened areas simply due to wear.

The official recorded mintage of the nation’s first gold coin is 24,648, a relatively small number given the amount of gold deposited at the Assay Office. Very few out of the mintage actually circulated, with many of them ending up in the melting pot. 

Assaying of the one pound samples sent to London determined that the intrinsic value of the gold contained in each piece exceeded its nominal value. The coin therefore became the target of profiteers and were exported to London and melted down.

The Adelaide Gold One Pound, struck in the first production run, is known as the Type I Adelaide Pound and fewer than forty examples survive from the first production run in varying degrees of quality.

The Adelaide Gold One Pound, struck in the second production run, is known as the Type II Adelaide Pound. It is an iconic gold coin with perhaps two hundred and fifty available to collectors.

The clear advantage of the Type II over the Type I is its availability and its affordability. 

The discovery of significant gold deposits in Australia in 1851 created sudden wealth and stimulated immigration on a vast scale. The Gold Rush transformed the nation, economically and socially, and marked the beginnings of a modern multi-cultural Australia. 

No colony was immune from the dramatic effects of the discovery of gold. Those that were rich in gold. And those, such as the colony of South Australia, that was devoid of the precious metal, its economy collapsing due to the mass exit of manpower and currency lured to the Victorian gold fields.

While enormous potential wealth was being dug out of the ground, there was no local mechanism to transform the gold into currency. Money was scarce and the colonial governments had no authority to strike coinage.

That meant gold had to be shipped to London to convert into sovereigns, involving substantial shipping costs and a round-trip time of about six to eight months. The banks monopolised gold buying on the fields, forcing artificially low prices on the diggers who were powerless to achieve the higher London price. Transport from the fields was dangerous and expensive. 

There was unanimous agreement amongst the five colonies, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales, that a gold coinage had to be locally produced, that the six month turnaround of shipping gold off to London and receiving sovereigns in exchange was unworkable. 

As each colony was under different pressures however, they failed to agree on the form a currency should take. And to its urgency. 

The New South Wales legislature debated the establishment of an Assay Office to resolve the currency crisis. The notion was rejected, the legislators opting instead to follow protocols and petition London for the establishment of a colonial Mint. The decision was heavily influenced by the banks. While both options would present an impediment to their business, a mint was the lesser of two evils.

In the knowledge that an 'official' solution might take years, the colonial Governments of South Australia and Victoria sought a more immediate resolve, that of an Assay Office. Victoria's rumblings went nowhere. South Australia however pursued the idea with vigour, circumventing currency laws and established the Adelaide Government Assay Office. 

The opening of the Adelaide Assay office required local legislation. It came in the form of the Bullion Act, enacted on 23 January 1852. The Act authorised the opening of a Government Assay Office that would produce gold ingots. While not legal tender, they could be exchanged for banknotes at the rate of £3 11/- per ounce.

Production of ingots began on 4 March 1852. 

Fielding numerous complaints about the ingots and their efficacy in solving South Australia's financial crisis, the Act was amended in November of the same year and the striking of ingots repealed. 

Instead the Government Assayer was instructed to strike gold pieces with a value of Ten Shillings (10/-), One Pound (£1), Two Pounds (£2) and Five Pounds (£5). 

Local jeweler and engraver Joshua Payne created the dies for the nation's first gold coins. The obverse declared the issuing authority, Government Assay Office Adelaide, encircling a crown and the date, 1852, the design used continuously throughout production. The reverse declared the fineness and weight encircling it's value.

Two designs were prepared for the reverse one pound dies, the first with stylish lettering and a simple, elegant beaded inner circle. It was used in the very first production run. The second was prepared with plain lettering and a scalloped inner circle (similar to that used on the obverse) and was used throughout the second production run.

Only the One Pound coin was struck in 1852, the final mintage recorded as 24,648. No Five Pound pieces were struck in that year. The dies are however currently held in the National Collection of South Australia.  Dies of the Ten Shillings and Two Pounds have never been found. 

The Bullion Act was intended only as a short-term solution, its operation limited to twelve months, expiring in January 1853. No attempt was made to extend it or continue the coinage after the period originally fixed.

Early in November 1915 the Melbourne Mint was formally instructed to commence preparations for the striking of the Commonwealth's silver coinage. The silver was sourced locally from the Broken Hill mines. It is noted that prior to 1915, the nation's silver coinage had been minted overseas at the Royal Mint London and the Heaton Mint in Birmingham.

Towards the end of November 1915, dies for the set of four denominations were sent from London. Six weeks after the dies were shipped, the Governor of Victoria Sir Arthur Stanley K.C.M.G, struck the first circulating 1916 shilling. It was logical that the Melbourne Mint would begin striking silver coinage with the shilling denomination given its similar physical size to their familiar sovereign.

The florin was struck almost immediately after, sixpences by the middle of 1916 with the threepences finally later in the year. More than 11.5 million silver coins were released into circulation that year.

The Melbourne Mint's inaugural striking of Australia's Commonwealth coins was a momentous occasion in minting circles. The Deputy Master of the Melbourne Mint therefore decided to create a Presentation Set to record the occasion.

Each presentation set was comprised of the four silver coins of florin, shilling, sixpence and threepence, each featuring the Melbourne mint mark ‘M’ below the date 1916 and minted to specimen quality.

The set of four was housed in a handsome, velvet-lined royal blue case that had been locally sourced.

The availability of the four-coin specimen presentation set was confirmed in November 1916 when Le Souëf recorded an entry of sixty specimen sets in the Mint Museums’ cash accounts with a face value of £11 5/-.

While records show that 60 sets were produced, sixteen were sold, collectors charged 6/- for a cased set.

A further 25 sets out of the original mintage were presented to dignitaries and politicians with the precise fate of the remaining sets unknown.

What we do know is that many of the cases have been lost and many of the sets have been broken up and sold as individual coins.

We also know that others were accidentally used as circulating coins, their value irreparably reduced through wear.

Over the past seventy-plus years we note only seven sets housed in their original case of issue have been recorded.

Acquiring a 1930 Penny is a proud moment for an Australian coin collector. It an occasion to be savoured and celebrated for the 1930 Penny is an Australian icon, a part of the nation's folklore. It is the coin that was borne out of the Great Depression, never meant to be struck with its origins shrouded in mystery and romance.

Acquiring a 1930 Penny doesn't happen every day simply because of its extreme rarity.

A meagre 1500 coins were believed struck.

When a 1930 Penny is passed on to a family member that person is being gifted an item of value and increasing value. And they are being passed an item that was particularly special to its owner evoking wonderful memories.

And this 1930 Penny is a well above average example.

There are many reasons why collectors love the 1930 Penny and one of the prime reasons is its financial reliability. It is a solid coin. And this genuinely counts. 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.

The second reason is that the 1930 Penny 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.

The third reason is that the 1930 Penny is sought after at all quality levels and all dollar levels. It is in many respects an industry phenomenon, for in a market that is quality focused 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 just four years away, the push to acquire Australia’s favourite Penny is really on.

The Sir Marcus Clark 1860 Aborigine Silver Threepence

Price: $105,000

The Sir Marcus Clark Aborigine Threepence is the earliest numismatic representation of an indigenous Australian.

Struck in silver, and this example, almost proof-like.

It is a truly remarkable piece of Australiana that is easy to get emotional about. And it's pretty obvious when you look at its auction performance over the last seventy-plus years that many a collector/bidder has got emotional about it. The piece has consistently exceeded expectations on the three occasions it has made a public appearance.

The Kookaburra Penny and Halfpenny were trailblazers: Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage, produced in 1919, 1920 and 1921 at the Melbourne Mint. Coins with simple design elegance, produced for Australians, by Australians.

Avant-garde and adventurous, the historical significance of the kookaburra coins cannot be overstated.

The coins pushed the boundaries of traditional design practices, using a 'never-tried before' concept of depicting wildlife unique to Australia. And introduced an innovative material of cupro-nickel.

All of which were taken up in 1966 with Australia's decimal currency changeover!

In 1919, the Government put forward a proposal to replace the round 'British-styled' penny and halfpenny in use at the time with completely new Australian coins. Proudly nationalistic, crafted on one side, with a kookaburra sitting on a branch, underneath the word 'AUSTRALIA' and on the other side, a portrait of George V.

Eleven variations of the penny and two of the halfpenny were produced over three years, each a variation on the one kookaburra theme and each variation assigned a numeric design type, Type 1 to Type 13, to make it easy for collectors. 

The Kookaburra coins were test pieces and were not struck to the exacting standards of a proof strike, the very reason why the coins show variations in the thickness of the edges. We note that the edges have been well executed on this coin.

Given to dignitaries to assess their reaction, there was no packaging and we know that not every dignitary was a collector and would have handled them with care. Some of the coins must have been tucked into a fob pocket for they have circulated. Others could have rattled around a top desk drawer. We note that this coin has been brilliantly preserved. The fields are fully brilliant!

It is a statement of fact that a well struck and well-preserved kookaburra coin is a joy to behold.

1935 Proof Penny,
a full brilliant mint red

1935 Proof Penny,
a full brilliant mint red

The 1935 Proof Penny was a 'commercial' issue struck by the Melbourne Mint. Commercial in the sense that the mint sold the coins to make money, charging collectors a premium over face value.

But definitely not commercial by today's standards where mintages of 10,000 are the norm and collectors have the benefits of on-line ordering and toll-free phone numbers to buy their favourite collector coins from the Royal Australian Mint or the Perth MInt. 

Collectors in the nineteenth and twentieth century were not afforded the same consideration from the operating mints.

The Melbourne Mint was Australia’s second coining facility and opened in 1872 to strike gold sovereigns. The mint did not produce any presentation pieces to celebrate its opening in 1872, a missed opportunity for today's collectors.

In 1916 the Melbourne Mint welcomed in a new era and commenced striking silver coins for the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia. The numismatic shortcoming of not issuing specially struck celebratory issues in the year of its opening was addressed in 1916. 

The Deputy Master of the Melbourne Mint authorised the production of sixty cased Presentation Sets, each set comprised of four 1916 dated silver coins, the florin, shilling, sixpence and threepence struck to a specimen finish.

The notion that the mint might have been buoyed by striking coins especially for collectors is indeed a misnomer. 

The Melbourne Mint did not strike its next collector issue until 1927, everyone's favourite, the Proof Canberra Florin. And indeed, up until 1955, the Melbourne Mint struck commercial issues on only another five occasions, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1953. 

And even then, two of the issues (1934 and 1935) required financing from the private sector, so timid was the Melbourne Mint in committing themselves to a commercial coining programme.

The Melbourne Mint's issues, especially struck for collectors, are extremely scarce and they are celebrated as critical points in Australia's numismatic history.

The table below indicates the collector issues that were struck between 1916 and 1953 and the mintage. The mintage figures have been determined from the mint's historical records including letters and sales ledgers and are shown in brackets.

    •   1916 Specimen Set ( 60 )
    •   1927 Proof Canberra Florin ( 400 )
    •   1934 Proof Set  ( 50 )
    •   1935 Proof Pair  ( 125 )
    •   1937 Proof Crown  ( 100 )
    •   1938 Proof Set ( 68 ) 
    •   1938 Proof Crown  ( 52 )
    •   1939 Proof Halfpenny  ( 40 )
    •   1953 Specimen Set  ( 12 )

1931 Proof Sovereign
struck at the Perth Mint

1931 Proof Sovereign
struck at the Perth Mint

Date - the date 1931 is historically significant for it was the year Australia ceased production of sovereigns as circulating currency. The date signifies the end of an era and ensures that the coin will always be relevant for generations to come.

Exclusivity of the sector - the Perth Mint had a miserly approach to striking proof coinage. Between 1899, when the mint opened, and 1931 when the last sovereign was struck, proof coinage was produced in just three years. Those proof production years were 1899, the year of its opening. Next came 1901, Australia's Federation year. (The coins of both 1899 and 1901, depicted the Veiled Head portrait of Queen Victoria.) And the final year of Australian gold sovereign production, 1931, when Australia ceased striking gold coins as currency (George V era). There were no proofs struck in between!

Three years that offer a total buying pool of seven coins. Conversely the Melbourne Mint proofs were struck in twenty-three out of sixty years of operation and the Sydney Mint proofs nineteen, out of seventy-two years of production.

The market's reaction to this coin was clearly shown when it was first offered at Baldwins, London in 2012, as lot 878, the coin selling for £52,800, 32 per cent higher than its pre-sale upper estimate of £40,000. By comparison, a 1929 Melbourne Mint Proof Sovereign, a proof coin out of the same era, was offered with an upper pre-sale estimate of £40,000 and sold for £40,800.

Exclusivity of the sector ... cont'd - If we compare the two coins, the 1931 Perth Proof and the 1929 Melbourne Proof, there is no doubt that the year 1931 is considered more important historically than 1929. But the prime reason for the vast price differential was that the 1931 Proof Sovereign is a product of the Perth Mint. And is overwhelmingly rare and prestigious. 

Rarity - there are two known examples of the Perth Mint Proof 1931 Sovereign. But if quality is a prime consideration, then this coin is unique, for the other known coin is impaired with imperfections in the fields. This coin is a gem proof, and a superb FDC. 

Provenance - the provenance of this coin is supremely fitting. It was presented to John Agnew circa 1931. That a coin of such power and influence in the Australian gold coin market was originally owned by John Agnew somehow seems just right for he too was powerful and influential. A man of vision and remarkable knowledge of gold mining, Agnew was credited with making a major contribution to revitalise the Western Australian gold mining sector in the 1920s and 1930s and was Director of Consolidated Goldfields when he was gifted this coin. 

When the Royal Mint London or the British Museum requested a sovereign or half sovereign from an Australian Mint, they were never sent a circulation strike. Nor would a circulation strike be presented to the monarch, gifted to a dignitary or sent to an influential collector. And a circulation strike would not be displayed at a Colonial Exhibition.

An individually crafted presentation piece would be specially created for the occasion, minted to a proof or specimen finish. The technical term for such a piece is 'Coin of Record'. 

A Coin of Record is an artistic interpretation of coinage, a strikingly beautiful coin beyond ordinary currency. Individually crafted to standards far exceeding that required of a circulating coin, using special coining techniques. Whereas production of circulating coinage was dictated by Government, Coins of Record were struck at the discretion of the mint master. 

Coins of Record were not produced every year and, as they were individually crafted, the process was time consuming and the mintages minuscule. For gold proofs, generally ten pieces or less. There were several occasions when only a single coin was struck.

Coins of Record of Australia's sovereigns and half sovereigns are visually stunning, distinguished by brilliant golden-mirror surfaces. And it is their beauty and their ultra-exclusivity that drives demand.

Australia's gold proof coins moved onto the international stage when the collection of John G. Murdoch was liquidated via Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge in London in 1903, following his passing in 1902. Murdoch held an extensive collection of gold proofs, including coins featuring the Sydney Mint design, Young Head, Jubilee and Veiled Head design. The Melbourne Mint was well represented with both proof sovereigns and proof half sovereigns. And minor representation from the Sydney Mint and the Perth Mint. 

The reputation of Australia's gold proof sovereigns and half sovereigns as an international commodity was set in stone in 1903, a widespread regard that holds to this very day, right across the globe. Recent international auction results, November 2021 and more recently in February 2026 confirm the status of Australia's gold proof coins as a globally traded commodity. And in particular confirm the price levels that Perth Mint proofs command. 

The proofs of the Perth Mint are the crown jewels of coinage, adding glamour and exceptionality to any collection. 

There is one other reason why the Proofs of the Perth Mint are so popular. The Perth Mint is still producing coins; its narrative has not been confined to history. The mint is an on-going story with a collecting audience that is expanding through the production and export of decimal collector coins. The Perth Mint’s commercial profile creates an environment whereby its earlier gold sovereign and half sovereign issues can be enabled and brought to life. Every time the Perth Mint opens its doors to welcome visitors, releases a new proof coin or celebrates an anniversary of its minting operations (as it did on 2024), we are reminded of a tradition of coining excellence that began in 1899. 

1813 Dump Type A/1 

1813 Dump Type A/1 

1. A coin to enjoy and show around
Struck with the A/1 dies, the crown is classically well-centred. The design details, the crown with its fleur-de-lis and pearls, the legend New South Wales, the date 1813 and on the reverse, the value Fifteen Pence are all legible.

2. Evidence of the original Spanish Dollar design
The design detail of the original Spanish Dollar from which this Dump was created is evident on the fifteen pence side of the Dump. We refer to it as the under-type and it is not always present. Its existence re-affirms the origins of the Dump and is highly prized.

3. Henshall's claim to fame - the elusive 'H' on the reverse
William Henshall declared his involvement in the creation of the Dump by inserting an 'H' into some (but not all) of the dies used during its striking. And on a well circulated Dump, the 'H' will not generally be prominent. But, using an eye-glass on this coin, you can see where the 'H' was located between the 'FIFTEEN' and the 'PENCE' on the reverse.

4. Oblique milling
There is evidence of the oblique milling. It was used as deterrent against clipping whereby the unscrupulous shaved off slivers of silver, reducing the silver content of the Dump. And making a small profit on the side.

George V, shilling, 1920 M, with star above the date, struck in .925 fine silver at the Melbourne Mint

George V, shilling, 1920 M, with star above the date, struck in .925 fine silver at the Melbourne Mint

The 1920 Florins and 1920 Shillings, showing the star above the date, were prepared as a result of a sudden rise in the price of silver that caused Great Britain and many other countries to reassess the silver content of their respective currencies.

Britain abandoned around 800 years of tradition when it reduced the finesse of its Sterling silver (92.5% pure) coins to an alloy of 50%. Canada also moved from the 92.5% standard down to 80% while British West Africa dropped silver issues completely in 1920 in favour of nickel and nickel brass coins.

Australia considered a similar move but in a gesture which cynical taxpayers of today would find very refreshing, the government wanted the public to be completely aware that the new coins would contain less silver.

According to the former numismatic curator of the Museum of Victoria, John Sharples, the normal order for 1920 dies for the silver coins had been placed in July 1919. At that time the intrinsic worth of the silver was less than the face value of the respective denominations and so no special instructions were issued in respect to the dies being prepared by the Royal Mint in London.

However, by March 1920 the situation had changed drastically. According to John it was decided to prepare new dies which featured smaller date figures to differentiate the debased coins from the earlier issues.

Judging from correspondence that came back from London, it would appear that the mint had already started work on the dies or was too busy with other projects. A suggestion came back that a star above the date would not only be more noticeable but could be produced more easily and quickly than reworking the date. 

This change was accepted by Melbourne and working dies for 1920 and punches for 1921 were ordered with the star. By August 1920, the Melbourne Mint had received thirty pairs of working dies for the florin and shilling denomination.

By the time everything was in place the silver crisis had passed. The silver price dropped, and Australia did not proceed with a debasement of its coinage.

Even so, no 1920 dated florins were issued for circulation.

Three other denominations were however struck for circulation in 1920, the shilling, sixpence and threepence. None carried the star. On some of the 1920 shillings (and even the sixpences) a small indentation above the date can be seen in high-grade coins, where the star has been removed on the die.

Strangely enough, the 1921 shilling still carried the star, although the silver crisis had long passed. 

We have a four-point check-list for evaluating a Kookaburra Penny that involves the date, design type, quality and price.

1. What is the date?
For the Kookaburra Pennies were struck in 1919, 1920 and 1921.

Our comments:
The year 1920 is a stand-out year as far as the industry is concerned as it hosts some of the rarest and most famous coins of the Australian numismatic industry: the 1920 Star Florin, Australia's rarest florin, one of Australia's most valuable shillings, the 1920 Star Shilling. And Australia's most valuable sovereign, the 1920 Sydney Mint Sovereign. And, of course, the 1920 Kookaburra Pennies.

2. What is the design type?
While all Square Pennies are rare, some designs are far rarer than others. But, as you would expect, with that rarity comes a higher price tag.

Our comments:
The Type 7 is extremely rare with an estimated twelve examples available to collectors. We might see a Type 7 on the market every eighteen months to two years.  We note that Australia's largest auction house last sold a Type 7 in 2016!

3. What is the quality?
The Square Pennies were test pieces and were not struck to the heady controls of a proof striking. As the coins were passed to the public for opinions and comments, some have been mishandled. 

Our comments:
Some Kookaburra coins are so rare, that quality almost becomes irrelevant. But in cases such as the Type 7 which would become available a few times in a decade, quality can be considered. This coin is superb for quality. Take it through the light and you would be forgiven for thinking that it was minted to proof quality, the fields are like mirrors. And it is well struck, the details in the legend, portrait and the kookaburra are strongly three-dimensional. Could you improve upon the quality of this coin? We doubt it!

4. What is the price?
Given its quality assignation of Choice Uncirculated and its rarity, the 1920 Type 7 Kookaburra Penny is priced to market at $65,000.

Our comments: This 1920 Square Penny is priced at the same level as a high quality Very Fine 1930 Penny and yet is far, far scarcer.

Summary statement.
The Type 7 1920 Kookaburra Penny is extremely rare and is the most popular of those dated 1920. And a Coinworks all-time favourite.  

The year 1920 is the glamour year of the industry and the glamour year of the kookaburra coin series.

The collector that wishes to acquire a 1920 Kookaburra Penny has four options, the Type 7, Type 8, Type 9 and Type 10. The decision about which coin to acquire will most certainly be influenced by availability. And perhaps price. 

The Type 7 Kookaburra Penny is the most available of the 1920 designs. That is not a criticism. Simply a statement of fact. For the Type 7 is still extremely scarce with a waiting time of perhaps eighteen months to two years for an example to come onto the market.

But a collector could realistically be looking at a waiting time of six to ten years, or more, for another design type dated 1920. A time lag that would exasperate even the most patient of buyers.

Extremely rare, and yet available within a reasonable time frame are the prime reasons why the Type 7 is the most popular of those dated 1920.

There is no doubt that the Melbourne Mint utilised different finishes with each coin type, and in each year. Our comment is that a superb Type 7 is a coin to behold! Proof-like and mirror fields and this coin is no exception.  

Rarity - one of twelve known. We estimate an example would be offered every two to three years. 

Composition - Nickel 75% Copper 25%

Reverse - A kookaburra with coarse plumage resting on a branch, the eye struck in relief, the tail with three feathers. The word 'AUSTRALIA' is curved, the letters large and well spaced, the penny denomination over two lines. A reverse that is shared with the Square Legend Type 9 and the Crowned Head Type 10 

Obverse - Uncrowned effigy of George V, portrait prepared by Australian artist, Douglas Richardson, the portrait with a distinctive central part in the hair. A design shared with the Square Legend Type 9 Kookaburra Penny. The circular legend reads GEORGIVS D. G. BRITT: OMN:REX, the date '1920' appearing below the portrait, separated from the legend by ornamental stops. 

The buyer of this 1813 Dump will take pride in knowing that the coin was formerly held as part of the legendary J. J. Ford Collection.

High profile collectors are noted for holding only the very best. John J. Ford was a major force in numismatics in the USA for 68 years both as a professional numismatist and a consummate collector. That this coin was part of the J. J. Ford Collection speaks volumes to its calibre.

The buyer will also take pride in knowing that this Dump has been exhibited twice, in 2013 at the Macquarie Bank exhibition. And in 2019, at the Royal Australian Mint Canberra, in the 'All That Is Holey' Exhibition. 

The coin was a natural contender for inclusion in the exhibitions. It was struck from the very rare D/2 dies. And with a quality grading of About Uncirculated is clearly the best.

Historians have determined that four individual dies were used in the striking of the 1813 Dump. The A/1 Dump is the most frequently sighted (75% of cases). Next in line for availability is the D/2 dies (20%).  Then comes the C/4 and E/3 dies that while incredibly rare, produced coins that were extremely crude.

This coin is an exceptional piece for it has design detail and shows a finesse in the striking that is not normally seen in the D/2 type. Historians argue that the D/2 design types were most likely the first coins produced, since the majority of specimens reflect one major design characteristic. The legend and the date tend to be partially struck because the dies were too big for the blank. And the denticles (introduced as a security measure) are almost always absent. On this Dump, however, the legend and the date are well contained in the coin and the partial denticles are crisp and clear.

This coin shines under an eye glass. We note the horizontal line that makes up the cross on the orb at the top of the crown. And the smudging of the vertical line. Most collectors would not even be aware that, as with the 1852 Adelaide Pound, the Dump design includes a cross on the orb at the top of the crown. (See close-up above.)

Henshall declared his involvement in the creation of the Dump by inserting his initial, an 'H' for Henshall, on some - but not all - of the reverse dies of the Dump. The 'H' for Henshall is rarely seen in D/2 examples. And even when it is sighted it can only be described as a 'blob'. The 'H' for Henshall is present on this coin and is formed. Quite amazing! (See close up below.)

Choice Uncirculated 1852 Adelaide Pound struck using the second reverse die featuring a scalloped inner border (Type II)

Price: $75,000

This 1852 Adelaide Pound is ascribed the higher quality ranking of Choice Uncirculated and is one of the best examples of the nation’s first gold coin.

The addition of the word ‘choice’ takes a coin to a quality level rarely seen when discussing circulating currency and one of the highest quality rankings available in numismatics.

To warrant that grading the coin has to be brilliantly preserved with lots of eye appeal. And the strike has to be powerful.

This Adelaide Pound has both.

The coin retains its original brilliance and is highly lustrous. The reverse in particular is magnificent. And the design has been brilliantly executed, the edges strong all the way around and the legend well defined, again all the way around (notorious areas of weakness in most Type II Adelaide Pounds). The crown has supremely-fine detail.

The Adelaide Pound is a coin that will always be in favour. It is ‘gold’ after all, one of our most popular collecting metals. The coin appeals to all age-groups, including the younger generation, and that augurs well for its future.

The defining quality of this Holey Dollar is that it was created from a Spanish Silver Dollar that was struck at the Potosi Mint. The Potosi Mint being the key here. 

Macquarie's order for Spanish Silver Dollars was fulfilled by the East India Company in Madras, and was not date or quality specific. No did he care which mint they came from. The dollars were sourced from various mints around the world, each with a different identifying mark. The percentage of Holey Dollars converted from the mints in Mexico, Lima, Potosi and Madrid are noted here. 

• Holey Dollars converted from Mexico Mint dollars - 81 per cent

• Holey Dollars converted from Lima Mint dollars - 10 per cent

• Holey Dollars converted from Potosi Mint dollars - 8 per cent.

• Holey Dollars converted from Madrid Mint dollars - 1 per cent

1813 Holey Dollar created from a Spanish Silver Dollar that had been struck at the Potosi Mint, Bolivia, in 1801 (Mira/Noble 1801/5, Spalding 99).

Price: $165,000

Design type:  5 (Charles IV legend and portrait)

Date of the silver dollar:  1801

Reigning monarch:  Charles IV (1788 - 1808)

Portrait:  Charles IV 

Legend:  Carolus (Charles) IIII

Mint and mint mark:  Potosi Mint, identified by the PTS monogram in the legend on the reverse said to be the inspiration of the '$' sign. 

Quality of silver dollar:  Very Fine 

Quality counter stamps:  Good Very Fine

Counter stamp dies:  II/4: B/4

Unique 1910 Edward VII Proof Sovereign struck as a Coin of Record at the Melbourne Mint.

Superb FDC 

Price: $135,000

This Edward VII 1910 Proof Sovereign has a level of excellence and exclusivity that inspires widespread admiration.

The coin is a celebration of the Melbourne Mint’s achievements in crafting perfection in gold. And it is unique. It represents the very best in its class. 

The proofs of Edward VII are characterised by extreme scarcity. Proofs were only struck in two years and of each, only one example is known.

The proofs of Edward VII are further characterised by extreme beauty. The Melbourne Mint reached its zenith in proof gold coining during the era of Edward VII, the depth of design of both the 1902 and 1910 Proof Sovereigns is magnificent, sculpted, three dimensional. The fields are like golden mirrors.

We estimate that one thousand collectors can own a 1930 Penny. Perhaps nineteen collectors can own a veiled head proof sovereign. But only two collectors can ever own an Edward VII proof sovereign, this coin one of the two.

The importance of this offer cannot be overstated.