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<p>This is a gem of a coin, a Choice Uncirculated 1852 Adelaide Pound. And we are not the only one to think so. The coin made its first appearance on the market at auction in 1997. Also described by Nobles Auction as 'a gem' and the quality ranking of Choice Uncirculated, the coin fetched an impressive $15,950 on an estimate of $9000. A second auction appearance in November 2001 produced similar results, $30,000 on a pre-sale estimate of $16,000. Two aspects characterise this coin. It is lustrous with much original brilliance. And the design has been brilliantly executed, noticeable in the edge denticles, the legend and the fine detail in the crown.</p>

This 1852 Adelaide Pound is visually appealing and technically solid. The design details are intact with slight touches to the high points. The fields are reflective. And despite its usage, there are none of the gouges and knocks you would expect to see in a circulated gold coin. Furthermore, the coin was well struck and the legend is strong and legible, particularly in the 'Assay Office' area which is notoriously weak in Adelaide Pounds struck using the second die. This is a much-loved example of the nation’s first gold coin available at a very affordable price. Check out the technical shots. It's a great example of the nation's very first gold coin.

13 January, 2004 was a watershed moment for the 1813 Dump when two of the absolute finest D/2 Dumps were offered at Stacks, New York opening auction for the year. Always viewed as the passive partner to the higher denomination Holey Dollar, the D/2 Dumps, forced a market-rethink about their status and the price at which top quality Dumps can - and should - command. Both coins, the former property of revered US collector J. J. Ford exhibited an exceptional strike and were brilliantly preserved and reached previously unheard of price levels. The coins put top quality 1813 Dumps 'on the map' on a worldwide scale. And this coin is one of them.

This coin is a prize. It is a superior example of the nation’s first sovereign, the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign, offered in a quality of Uncirculated. The design detail is clear, even to the naked eye. And under the eye glass the coin continues to shine for the crown is well struck, the cross on the orb at the top of the crown is complete, the fleur de lis on left and right are precise as are the pleats in the cloth. And so is ‘AUSTRALIA’ below the crown. And the hairline at the top of Victoria’s forehead is well struck and untouched. The technical shots in the 'Learn More' section below confirm the coin's glorious state.

The Sir Marcus Clarke 1813 Dump is a remarkable piece of colonial history. At Good Extremely Fine, it is extraordinary and one of the highest quality levels that can be aspired to, a level that is very rarely seen in a coin that was essentially, the workhorse of the colony. The coin is sharply struck, brilliantly preserved, the fields highly reflective. Under the eye glass, the coin simply shines, boasting detail that is rarely ever seen. Who knew there was a finely detailed cross on the orb at the top of the crown? With this Dump, the vertical line and the right-hand side of the horizontal line that make up the cross on the orb on the crown is visible, a close-up of which is shown below. We have seen this level of detail in only one other example. The design of the original Spanish Silver Dollar from which this Dump was created is extensive and appears on the crown-side of the coin which aesthetically, we favour. The castle, the lion’s tail, the central oval containing the fleur de lis and the cross bars in the shield. All evident. A truly extraordinary piece of colonial Australia.

This 1813 Dump comes with impeccable credentials. It is an inordinately rare example of the nation’s first fifteen pence. Struck from a die combination that historians refer to as obverse die ‘E’ and reverse die ‘3’, less than twenty examples are known. Over and above its rarity, the quality of this coin is absolutely supreme. The finest of the E/3 Dumps, it was offered by Spink Auctions Australia in March 1988, an auction that brought together a cavalcade of the nation’s top coins in celebration of our Bicentenary. The coin was exhibited in 2013 at the Macquarie Bank, Sydney. And in 2019 at the Royal Australian Mint, Canberra. It is a much revered piece, recorded in the Mira Noble Holey Dollar reference book (page 92) and the Greg McDonald Australian Coins and Banknotes reference book (page 162).

This is a stunning 1947 Proof Florin, featuring Australia’s new Coat of Arms design on the reverse and the portrait of George VI on the obverse. Struck as a Coin of Record at the Melbourne Mint, it is one of two privately held examples. It is a valuable and important acquisition for during the George VI era of 1938 to 1952, the Melbourne Mint only struck Coins of Record of its silver denominations in 1939, 1945, 1946 and 1947. And only three of them offer collectors opportunities for purchase 1939, 1946 and 1947, the silver proofs of 1945 held in the Museum of Victoria.

<p>This is a generational wealth opportunity. A unique proof coin pairing, issued by the Perth Mint in an historically defining year. Over its one hundred-and twenty-six-year minting history, from the day it opened on 20 June 1899 until this very day, the Perth Mint has, only once, produced a pairing of a proof sovereign and a proof half sovereign. </p><p>The year was '1901'. Australia's year of Federation. And only one pair, out of the original mintage, survives today. Records indicate that the Museum of Victoria and the British Museum are the only institutions to hold Perth Mint Coins of Record, each having an 1899 Sovereign and 1901 Half Sovereign. No pairs are held in any institutions worldwide, including the Perth Mint. This unique Perth Mint 1901 Proof Sovereign and 1901 Proof Half Sovereign is held by a Melbourne collector, and is now offered for private sale.</p>

This is an impressive 1930 Penny, in the top ten to fifteen per cent of surviving examples, with a grading of Nearly Very Fine on the obverse and Very Fine on the reverse. The significant details such as the upper and lower scrolls, the legend and the date ‘1930’ are all prominent. And the inner beading which is invariably weakly struck between the 4 o'clock and 6 o'clock area is well defined. And the edges, which we also consider important, are solid. Flip the coin, over and the monarch's crown shows three, almost four, sides of the central diamond and six plump pearls. The oval to the left of the central diamond is almost complete. Moreover, the toning is a consistent and a handsome chocolate brown, the fields glossy and highly reflective. Technical shots are shown below and confirm the fabulous state of this coin.

This 1930 Penny is graded Good Very Fine and would be placed in the top 5 per cent of surviving examples. A coin at this level of quality would be sighted on the market, perhaps once every one to two years. On the obverse, the coin has a full central diamond and traces of the seventh and eighth pearl. The reverse is equally impressive with well-defined inner beading, crisp upper and lower scrolls and a strong '1930' date. On both obverse and reverse, the toning is even and handsome. The fields are smooth and glossy. Now, it is a fact that the most frequently sighted 1930 Penny is a well circulated Fine. This coin, at Good Very Fine, is at least five grades higher. Technical shots are provided.

This 1893 Proof Sovereign is historic. It is a Coin of Record struck at the Melbourne Mint and a record of history in the truest sense. Minted as a permanent currency record of a new portrait design of Queen Victoria, the coin is stunningly beautiful with brilliant mirror fields that bounce the light and project a wealth of design depth. This 1893 Proof Sovereign also is extremely rare as one of two known, ex Murdoch Collection sold at Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge London 1903.

This 1926 Proof Shilling was formerly owned by three numismatic luminaries, Philip Spalding, Barrie Winsor and Ian Withers. You just know the coin will be exceptional. These three collectors never owned a piece that was trifling. Indeed, their reputations were built on coins such as this Proof 1926 Shilling, a fully brilliant proof coin with iridescent toning, FDC and extremely rare as one of two known.

For collectors looking to obtain just one gold sovereign, the nation’s very first sovereign, the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is the obvious choice. The coin is Australia’s first official gold currency minted at the Sydney Mint, the nation’s very first mint. Given its history, the coin will always be in demand, today and into the future. And this example is impressive and extremely rare at this quality level. In the flesh, the coin sparkles under the light. And the edges are solid. The design detail is obvious, even to the naked eye. Under the eye glass the coin continues to shine for the crown is well struck, the fleur de lis on left and right are precise as are the pleats in the cloth. So is ‘AUSTRALIA’ below the crown. And the hairline at the top of Victoria’s forehead is well struck with just a whisper touch to the design high points. The technical shots confirm the coin's impressive state.

There are Adelaide One Pounds. And then there is the Eliasberg Adelaide One Pound, so named because it was formerly owned by one of the world's greatest 20th century collectors Louis E. Eliasberg Snr. The Eliasberg Adelaide Pound promises and delivers an experience for the buyer. It is an elite example of one of the most famous of world gold coin issues, fully lustrous with superbly executed edges and a brilliantly executed design. Its state of preservation is miraculous, the design definition equally so and in our view, it is number two in the pecking order of Type II Adelaide Pounds.

The year '1930' is very important to the industry. It has created legends such as the Proof 1930 Penny. And the penny's lower denomination counterpart, the Proof 1930 Halfpenny. Both coins have a date that counts, the year resonating with all Australians. And a year that guarantees their continuing popularity. This Proof 1930 Halfpenny is particularly famous as it was formerly held in the Madrid Collection of Australian Rare Coins. This coin is a superb FDC with iridescent mirror surfaces that reflect stunning purple and emerald-green flashes, highlighting the date and highlighting the legend on both obverse and reverse. The inner beading is pristine. The edge denticles immaculate. This is a memorable coin!

One Kookaburra Square Penny is never enough. The coins are engaging and once a collector makes their first purchase, it inevitably leads to a second. And then a third. Each coin, a different date. Now, that will involve considerable time because all Kookaburra pennies are rare, and if you are aiming for top quality, it will take even longer. With this offer, we have taken all the hard work out of assembling a three-coin set of kookaburra pennies, 1919, 1920 and 1921. And we are offering a $10,000 price saving to boot! Further information on each coin is detailed below.

Had the craftsman that tooled out this Holey Dollar been a history buff he would have registered that the Spanish Silver Dollar that he was about to cut through, was quirky. And a great numismatic rarity. The Silver Dollar was struck in 1790, the legend confirming that Charles IV was the reigning Spanish monarch. But there is a twist to this coin! The portrait depicted the deceased monarch, Charles III, who had died two years earlier in 1788. And it is the twist that makes this Holey Dollar a coin of significance and a great numismatic rarity. We note the first formal record of ownership of this Holey Dollar is Howard D Gibbs. A great collector with a keen eye for rarity, he was a former owner of the world famous Madrid Holey Dollar and the only known example of an Uncirculated Holey Dollar. This Holey Dollar from the British colony of Dominica is supremely rare.

This colonial creation is a celebration of the Sydney Mint’s achievements in crafting perfection in gold. A brilliant frosted proof, featuring the 'Sydney Mint' design, this coin is historic because it was actually struck at the Sydney Mint. (Not the Royal Mint London, as were the other Australian proofs out of this era.) The coin is unique in private hands. Two other examples are known, held in Government institutions. The Museum of Victoria, Melbourne. And the Biblioteque Nationale de France, Paris.

The 1823 Tasmania Shilling is Australia’s first private coin issue. It is extremely rare with perhaps thirty pieces known, this piece placed in the top tier quality-wise. The issue was financed by British entrepreneurs, Hugh MacIntosh and Peter Degraves, the design featuring a kangaroo and the name 'Tasmania', both of which are noteworthy. It was the earliest depiction of a kangaroo on an item of decorative art available for private ownership. And the first item of decorative art to feature the name Tasmania, rather than Van Diemen's Land. According to Australian author Greg Jeffreys these two gentlemen ultimately changed the course of Australia's history for by 1834 they had built two mills, founded the Cascade Brewery that today is Australia's oldest continually operating brewery. Spearheaded the establishment of Australia's oldest theatre, the Theatre Royal in central Hobart. And facilitated the writing of Australia's first novel by convicted forger and author, Henry Savery. This Macintosh & Degraves Shilling brings history to life with a direct link to two men who were "movers and shakers" in Tasmania’s colonial economy.

Ray Jewell was a foremost Australian collector and a highly respected professional, his involvement in the industry spanning more than three decades. He set the bar very high when it came to collecting proof coinage. A coin that was owned by Ray Jewell had to be rare and had to be top quality, traits that were duly acknowledged by the broader collector market whenever his coins came up at public auction. This Proof 1928 Shilling was a crowd-pleaser and a record breaker all along the way, selling in July 1993 for $11,000 on an estimate of $4000. And in the year 2000 selling for $22,540 on a pre-auction estimate of $15,000. In 2003, this numismatic gem was sold to the owner of the now famous Madrid Collection of Australian Rare Coins. The technical photographs confirm its glorious state.

The Kookaburra Square Halfpenny is one of Australia’s great Commonwealth coin rarities and since the 1950s, has been acknowledged so. But there is a harsh reality to acquiring a Kookaburra Halfpenny. • There are not many coins around. Perhaps twelve. • An even harsher reality is that there is plenty of competition to acquire one for there are approximately two hundred Kookaburra Pennies available to collectors. And while those numbers are grim - twelve versus two hundred - that doesn't even consider competition coming from coin buyers that have a pure investment bent. This 1921 Kookaburra Halfpenny is perhaps the last choice quality example to come from our stable of rarities. And it is noted that it was originally acquired from Barrie Winsor in 1996. And this stunning 1921 Kookaburra Halfpenny is available now.

Rare coins raise awareness of our history and rare coins raise awareness of our accomplishments. It is a statement that may well have been written for this 1871 Proof Sovereign and 1871 Proof Half Sovereign. Brilliant and flawless and struck at the Sydney Mint, they are the very first proof coins struck in Australia.

Throughout history, extraordinary events have impacted on a nation’s currency, triggering ad hoc measures to supplement a medium of exchange. Affecting mintages or inspiring new designs and sometimes even inspiring brand-new coins. The events create an environment that spawns numismatic superstars, coins that are overwhelmingly rare and supremely important. The coins shown above, were all struck in 1937 at the Royal Mint London and each is an Australian numismatic superstar. The extraordinary event that triggered their star status was the cancellation of the coronation of Edward VIII. The Australian Government planned to launch new coin designs in 1937, to coincide with Edward's coronation. The Royal Mint London prepared the master dies and struck a minuscule number of test pieces for the Government featuring the new designs. Edward VIII’s decision to abdicate the British throne AND the subsequent decision by the Australian Government to produce no circulating currency in 1937, other than the crown - conferred a superstar status on the test pieces.

The nation's first gold coin was struck at the Adelaide Assay Office on 23 September 1852. We know it today as the 1852 Adelaide Pound. We follow a simple process when it comes to acquiring an Adelaide Pound. We check the coin in the hand confirming that it is aesthetically pleasing. We then take the coin under the glass examining the fine detail. And then we re-check it with the naked eye to confirm our decision. We have gone through the processes with this coin, and we like what we see with both the naked eye and the eye-glass. We particularly note that while this coin has circulated, there are not the gouges or hard knocks that are so often associated with circulated gold coins. We also note, the fields are highly reflective. (Technical shots are shown below in the Learn More section.)