Recent Sales

Prices of Australian pre-decimal proofs rocketed in the year 2000 following the appearance of this 1920 Proof Penny at a Melbourne Auction. The only known example in private hands, the coin was the showpiece of a small collection of proof coppers that had been struck at the Melbourne Mint between 1920 and 1932. The coins had never been sighted before. The vendor indicated that he had bought the collection in the 1950s from renowned collector Roy Farman who had held them from the day they were struck. We attended the auction and the competition for acquisition was amazing, as strong as we have ever seen. The coins sold for prices that were almost double estimate and it is noted that pre-auction estimates reflected price guides at the time. And the reason for the heady prices?

This 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is presented in Extremely Fine, with minimal marks in the field and original lustre in the legend on both the obverse and reverse. Given the superior quality of this coin we ask the question. Which coin is the more difficult to acquire in this superior state? The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign or the 1852 Adelaide Pound? First gold sovereign or first gold pound? From an examination of auction records – and our own experience - the answer is very clearly, the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign. In fact, our first sovereign is four times harder to find than the Adelaide Pound. Technical shots are shown below and we have included a chart that shows the genuine scarcity of the 1855 Sovereign in the upper quality levels.

The 1930 Penny is legendary, and its star status has made it one of Australia's most valuable rare coins. Because the dollars involved in acquiring a 1930 Penny are considerable, we offer one very basic tip for buyers to assist them in their decision-making process. Select a 1930 Penny that is visually very attractive and has no obvious defects from its time in circulation. This simple point will really count when, further down the track, it comes time for you to sell your coin and realise on your investment. The 1930 Penny that we have for sale fits that profile in every respect and is as per the photographs above and at right. The coin has a technical obverse grading of Good Fine. The reverse is graded higher again at About Very Fine with strong upper and lower scrolls and well defined inner beading.

This Choice Uncirculated 1923 Halfpenny was acquired in 2008 by the owner of the Madrid Collection of Australian Rare Coins. It was, at the time, one of two elite 1923 Halfpennies that came to the market for private sale. The first coin was the unique Proof 1923 Halfpenny. The second coin was this example: a coin that was originally struck for circulation but had survived the production process and preserved in an almost proof-like state. Our client was not influenced by the dollars involved, he had the capacity to acquire both pieces. But he opted for the latter. He is one of many collectors that respect the magnitude of top quality ‘circulating’ coins over of the substance of proof coinage.

That great value is to be had in the banknote market is clearly evidenced in this George V Riddle Sheehan One Pound. Every box is ticked. The note introduced a new design, and that’s important to collectors. It offers quality that can’t be improved upon at Uncirculated. Issued in an era that is especially popular, George V. And available at a price that is very affordable.

Retired numismatic dealer, Ross Pratley, was passionate about Australia’s history and the role that currency plays in defining and recording our past. He indulged his passion through the acquisition of pre-federation banknotes, including this spectacular colonial rarity. And by accumulating one of the finest collections of Australian half sovereigns the nation has ever seen for as a dealer, he had access to the very best. This 1824 Bank of New South Wales Twenty Spanish Dollars was issued on 1 January 1824 and entered in the bank’s ledger as note number 31164. It was Pratley’s prized possession. A profoundly important piece of colonial history. Tangible evidence of the brief window in Australia’s past when the influence of the Spanish Silver Dollar was at its zenith and the finances of the penal colony of New South Wales were expressed in Spanish Silver Dollars. Our first decimal banknote as such. Made even more important by the note’s rarity. While two examples are held as museum pieces in Westpac Archives, this is the only example privately held. Collectors and investors alike will appreciate the value that this wonderful piece of Australiana presents when you consider that 200 Holey Dollars are available to collectors. And only one of this banknote.

In 2018, proof gold has emerged as one of the most fiercely contested areas of the rare coin market. Over the last twelve months, prices paid at auction for proof sovereigns and proof half sovereigns have surged by about 20 per cent, the consequence of increased demand. Now while it is true that gold is Australia’s most popular collecting metal, the key to the growth in proof gold has been its inordinate scarcity. Buyers know that there is never a chance that the market will be flooded with examples. The scarcity has simply given the market the confidence to buy. This coin is a case in point. We are aware of two Proof 1930 Melbourne Mint Sovereigns. This coin, sold by private treaty in the 1990s through Monetarium Sydney and now in our hands. And one other example that appeared at public auction in 1988. But that’s as far as it goes for the year 1930. And proof sovereigns. The Sydney Mint was not producing coins having closed in 1926 and it is on record that the Perth Mint did not strike proofs in 1930, the year of the Great Depression.

The original intention of proof coining was to create a numismatic masterpiece that would represent an era in Australia's history and tell a story that was an indelible part of our nation's past. The Melbourne Mint created a numismatic masterpiece when it struck the 1927 Proof Canberra Florin. The Duke of York officially opened Parliament House in Canberra on 9 May 1927. To commemorate the occasion, the Government authorised the minting of the Canberra Florin featuring Parliament House on the reverse and George V on the obverse. The Melbourne Mint issued 400 limited edition collector coins struck to proof quality. This coin is a superb example from the original mintage.

You hold history in your hand when you own a Holey Dollar. And you will create 'new' history by joining its former owners, the collectors for whom this coin was a prized possession. In the case of this Holey Dollar, its first recorded sale occurred in 1889 when it was purchased by E. Best, resident of Tasmania and subsequently passed to one of his relatives circa 1927. The impact of owning such a great historical piece is even more profound when you open the book, ‘The Holey Dollars of New South Wales’ by Messrs. Mira and Noble and find your coin photographed and officially recorded as one of the almost 300 surviving examples. A copy of the Catalogue accompanies the sale.

This Holey Dollar has the two words ‘POTOSI MINT’ in its description and those two words place it in a class all on its own. Holey Dollars that were created from silver dollars struck at the Potosi Mint in Bolivia are the RAREST of the rare. In 1988 Messrs. Mira and Noble catalogued and published a record of the known surviving Holey Dollars identifying those that were held by private collectors and those held in institutions. Only 15 privately owned coins had ties to the Potosi Mint. Next up for availability was the Lima Mint in Peru with 17 available; the Mexico Mint being the most frequently sighted with 143 recorded examples. We note that we have only ever handled four Potosi Mint Holey Dollars, and this coin is one of the four.

The 1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound is Australia’s very first gold coin and is an iconic Australian numismatic rarity. The Cracked Die is as famous as it is rare with less than 40 examples known. So celebrated and so rare that procuring a Cracked Die below $100,000 is nigh on a fluke, a chance occurrence. Once sold we sense that this coin will almost be impossible to replace.

The 1813 Dump, and its partner the 1813 Holey Dollar, were the first coins struck in Australia, the innovation of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Not only are they rare, but their fascinating history has made them two of the world's most famous coins. They are as recognised, respected and sought after on the international stage as they are on our home shores. What is also recognised is that, in the highest quality levels, the Dump is the scarcer of the two. This 1813 Dump is for the buyer seeking the absolute finest example of Australia's first silver coin. It is ranked NUMBER ONE in the pecking order. The enormity of this offer becomes clear when you consider that there are quite likely 1000 Dumps in existence today, with 200 housed in public institutions and the balance available to collectors. This Dump is in every respect a 'miracle' coin.

We are celebrating the start of a new financial year with some sensational offers on Australia's classic copper rarity, the 1930 Penny. This 1930 Penny has undergone a little more circulation than the Very Fine example shown above, but clearly reflects our prime rule for buying a 1930 Penny. Acquire a coin that is visually very attractive. It also comes with our new financial year price bonus. Presented in a quality level of About Very Fine, this coin is available for the same price as one graded one notch down at Good Fine. THAT'S A $5000 PRICE ADVANTAGE. Family heirloom. Or an investment in history. This 1930 Penny is both. Technical shots have been included in the READ MORE section. In a presentation befitting the coin, this 1930 Penny is presented in a handsome black presentation case, with accompanying photographs and Certificate of Authenticity.

One million crowns were minted for circulation in 1937 which means that the circulation-strikes are today readily available. Their availability tends to cloud collectors perception of the scarcity of the 1937 PROOF CROWN. With only 100 struck, they are exceedingly difficult to procure, particularly in top quality. This 1937 Proof Crown was sold in 1995 to the owner of the Madrid Collection of Australian Rare Coins. And while the name of the Collection might suggest that the owner was a resident of Spain, in fact our client resides in Sydney. Over the past three decades he formed one of the foremost collections of our time, his collecting mission to acquire the very best and the rarest, including this 1937 Proof Crown. The coin is a superb example from the original mintage of 100 and one of the finest we have handled. That great collectors only ever hold great coins is clearly evidenced with this very impressive 1937 Proof Crown.

This 1915 Collins Allen Ten Shillings has been safely tucked away for the past 32 years. The note first appeared at auction in 1981, in what is on record one of Australia’s most important Numismatic Auctions. The note returned to auction in 1986 when successful purchaser, Barrie Winsor, fought off considerable opposition to secure it for $3400, well up on its pre-auction estimate of $2000. Winsor recalls the auction with clear recollections of the note and its original state. And his mindset at the time. That he always had the greatest faith in quality notes from the George V era; a conviction that he holds to this very day. He sold the note to a Sydney collector immediately after the auction, where it has been held ever since. Historical records indicate that a minuscule 38 examples of this Ten Shillings remain from the original issue of 2 million, this being the equal finest. It is also on record that the remaining examples are well circulated.

We are celebrating the start of a new financial year with some sensational offers on Australia's classic copper rarity, the 1930 Penny. This coin is an extremely rare, high quality 1930 Penny ranked in the top eight per cent of surviving examples. Presented in a quality level of Very Fine, this coin is available for the same price as one graded one notch down at Nearly Very Fine. THAT'S A $10,000 PRICE ADVANTAGE. Family heirloom. Or an investment in history. This 1930 Penny is both. Technical shots have been included in the READ MORE SECTION. In a presentation befitting the coin, this 1930 Penny is presented in a handsome black presentation case, with accompanying photographs and Certificate of Authenticity.

This Sheehan McFarlane Ten Pounds was issued with the prefix V over 3, which signifies that it came from the very first print run of Ten Pounds issued in 1940 for the new monarch George VI. And that makes it particularly important and extremely rare. Even rarer again, given that the note is presented in Uncirculated quality. Crisp with full original colour. Historical records confirm that only seventeen Uncirculated Sheehan McFarlane First Prefix Ten Pounds have appeared at auction over the last forty-plus years.

Prime Minister Andrew Fisher fulfilled his promise to the nation when he introduced Australia’s very first Commonwealth of Australia banknotes in 1913. The Ten Shillings was introduced in May 1913, the One Pound in June, the Five Pounds in September and the Ten Pounds in October of the same year and all featured the Collins Allen signature combination. As Fisher intended, the banknote designs were unapologetically Australian and featured the new Commonwealth Coat of Arms and on the reverse an Aussie scene that promoted Australia’s proud infrastructure achievements and our primary industries. The two high denomination notes, the Five and the Ten Pounds are the rarest out of all these issues, historical records noting that a minuscule seventeen Collins Allen Ten Pounds have survived out of the original mintage. It is also noted that all the surviving Ten Pounds examples are well circulated.

Every collector that embraces the Australian sovereign series will at some point in time contemplate the purchase of an 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign. That’s understandable given that it is the nation’s very first sovereign. Two matters will be foremost in a buyer’s mind. A budget. And the quality that those dollars will deliver. But there is another consideration for potential buyers of the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign and that’s availability. For while well circulated examples are reasonably readily available, coins such as this Extremely Fine ’55 sovereign are genuinely scarce. More than 12 months have elapsed since we last offered a ’55 sovereign at this quality level. This coin is rare. Technical shots have been included in the READ MORE section.

Barrie Winsor spent more than 20 years forming the Quartermaster Collection for Queensland collector, Tom Hadley. Included in the Quartermaster Collection, this Brilliant Uncirculated 1887M Young Head Shield Sovereign. Despite the fact that Winsor's ties to the Collection effectively ceased in 2009 when the Quartermaster Collection was sold at auction, the extraordinary quality traits of this coin remained firmly imprinted in his memory. So when Winsor heard that we had acquired some coins from the Quartermaster Collection, the very first question he asked us was whether our purchases included the '1887M Shield Sov.' It is an exceptional quality gold sovereign and according to Winsor, the finest known example with a highly detailed striking (notice the kiss-curl in front of the ear), perfect edges and satin fields. To the naked eye you would be forgiven for thinking that it was a matte proof.

This 1921 Square Penny must have become a prized collectable soon after it was minted for it has uncompromised quality with proof like surfaces, handsome toning and a deeply etched design of a sleek kookaburra resting on a twig. We refer to the design as the Type 11 and it is presented in Choice Uncirculated quality. It is at this point we ask the question … how often do you see the two words ‘Choice Uncirculated’ attached to a Square Penny? The answer is rarely. In fact, we checked back through our records and can confirm that we have only ever sold two Choice Uncirculated Type 11s in more than 40-plus years of trading and this coin is one of the two. In our view, this Square Penny is the perfect starting point for the buyer keen to acquire a Kookaburra Penny. Optimum quality, extreme rarity but at a price that is palatable.

The pride and joy of owning the nation’s first coin, the 1813 Holey Dollar, is indefinable and for many Australian coin collectors it is their ultimate goal. The coin is extremely rare with less than 200 available to private collectors. Given its scarcity, and its significance to the nation, it also is highly valued. So finding a quality Holey Dollar priced below the $100,000 level is no easy task ... which is why we believe this coin is so special. Technical shots are available in the READ MORE section.

This coin is for the buyer that is seeking one of the absolute finest examples of Australia’s famous 1930 Penny. We rate it as number THREE in the pecking order of known 1930 Pennies. The enormity of this offer becomes clear when you consider that there are quite likely one thousand (or more) 1930 Pennies in existence today. Given the clear and defining quality traits of this piece, it is in every respect a ‘miracle’ coin. READ MORE for technical shots of both obverse and reverse and more information.

There are two aspects to this 1918 Perth Mint Half Sovereign that must be noted. The first is that the coin is presented as Choice Uncirculated. The addition of the word ‘CHOICE’ takes quality to a level that is the absolute exception and very rarely seen. A step up from Uncirculated, the coin has satin fields and a strong strike. We remark on the strength in the rider’s leg …. an inherent area of weakness in most 1918s. The second aspect that must be noted is that the 1918 Perth Mint Half Sovereign is rare with less than 300 believed in existence across all ranges of quality. This is a world class coin rarity presented in the supreme quality of Choice Uncirculated and, for the record, is only the second Choice Uncirculated example we have ever handled. (Technical shots are provided in the READ MORE section.)

The 1930 Penny is legendary, and its star status has made it one of Australia's most valuable rare coins. Because the dollars involved in acquiring a 1930 Penny are considerable, we offer one very basic tip for buyers to assist them in their decision-making process. Select a 1930 Penny that is visually very attractive and has no obvious defects from its time in circulation. This simple point will really count when, further down the track, it comes time for you to sell your coin and realise on your investment. The 1930 Penny that we have for sale fits that profile in every respect and is as per the photographs above and at right. The coin has a technical obverse grading of About Very Fine. The reverse is graded similarly with strong upper and lower scrolls and immaculate inner beading. In a presentation befitting the coin, this 1930 Penny is presented in a handsome black presentation case, with accompanying photographs and Certificate of Authenticity. (Technical shots are provided in READ MORE.)

There is no doubt that the year 1788 is significant to all Australians for it is the year in which Australia was settled. But there is another aspect to the date 1788. Charles III was the reigning monarch in 1788 and Holey Dollars struck from Charles III Spanish Silver Dollars are extremely rare. Statistically we know that approximately 13 per cent of Holey Dollars held by collectors depict the portrait of Charles III. (Charles IIII is depicted on approximately 77 per cent.)

That currency reflects the mood of a nation – and the agenda of a Government - is never more evident than with the Square Penny and Halfpenny series and its mooted introduction in 1919.

The 1926 Sydney Sovereign marks the end of an era of minting history at the Sydney Mint. The coin was struck in the very last year of the mint's operations and symbolic as such. In today's collector market it is extremely rare, almost the entire mintage believed despatched overseas in payment of war debt. This is the very first time that we have offered a Choice Uncirculated 1926 Sydney Sovereign. The coin warrants this quality assignation for the design is sharp and the fields superb. A full blazing gem. In fact, to our knowledge this is the first time a 1926 Sydney Sovereign of this calibre has been offered in Australia. In saying that we reflect on the fact that we have handled - and sold - two out of the three known Specimen 1926 Sydney Sovereigns that were struck as presentation pieces. This coin further fuels the discussion that has been waged for decades. Which is the rarer of the two? A Proof (or specimen) gold sovereign struck in a restricted mintage in a highly controlled environment? Or one that was struck for circulation and has somehow managed to survive the minting process and be preserved in choice condition? We will let you be the judge. See READ MORE for technical shots of both obverse and reverse.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) obviously felt that the nation's changeover to decimal currency was an event worth commemorating when it released two coveted collections, the first in 1991 and the second in 1994. Each collection represented the phases that the public underwent to become decimal banknote savvy. In both collections, buyers were offered banknotes, from Government Archives, notes numbered below 1000 and which had never before been made available to the general public. If the term 'Government Guarantee' can be applied to the quality of a numismatic product … then this is it.

This 1958 Melbourne Mint Proof Set is as good as it gets. A stunning proof penny that is a full blazing orange. And four glistening silver proofs, the florin, shilling, sixpence and threepence. This is an investment quality proof set that was struck at the Melbourne Mint in 1958. Dare we remind you that this set was struck sixty years ago. Brilliantly preserved, it offers today's collectors a level of quality that is seldom seen. Superb quality. Limited mintage. Supremely affordable.

Recent auction results, in London and in Germany, clearly show that Australian collectors are feeling the heat of international demand for Holey Dollars. And are being muscled out in their quest for an example of Australia's very first coin. The demand will ultimately place upward pressure on prices. So if you have been contemplating a Holey Dollar purchase, this offer is timely. This Holey Dollar is distinguished by quality. With original coin at Good Very Fine and the counter stamps at Extremely Fine, it is a high calibre piece. And with ties to the Lima Mint, this Holey Dollar also is characterised by rarity. Of the 200 privately owned Holey Dollars, only 11 per cent have ties to the Lima Mint. (It is noted that Coinworks last recorded sale of a Lima Mint Holey Dollar was five years ago, in February 2013.) Given recent market activity with Holey Dollars, we believe this coin to be very favourably priced.

The 1852 Adelaide Pound was struck at the Government Assay Office in Adelaide from 22 carat gold brought from the Victorian goldfields. It is the nation's very first gold coin. The first tip for buyers of Adelaide Pounds is to work through a budget beacuse the coins come in a range of qualities and a range of prices. The second tip for buyers. Irrespective of the budget, always select an Adelaide Pound that is visually very attractive. Take in the design elements, the crown in particular. Take a close look at the legend, the edges and the fields. Bottom line is that you should acquire a coin that you would be proud to show your family and friends. The coin that we are offering fits those protocols perfectly and is as per the photographs above and at right.

Over the last forty six years, we have recorded the sale of four examples of the 1919 Type 6 Square Penny, this coin being one of them. The photographs tell a complete story with this coin. It is, in our view, the absolute finest of its design type. We would go one step further to say that it is perhaps the finest example of any Square Penny (of any design) that we have seen. It is that good. Pale blue golden toning, brilliant mirror surfaces and a deeply etched design. And the edges are superb. No surprise therefore that the coin was chosen as the representative example of its type in the 'Kookas in the Cathedral' Exhibition held at the ANZ Bank in 2007. We ask the question just how often you see the assignation ‘Choice Uncirculated’ ascribed to a Square Penny.

An extremely rare piece, we have recorded the sale of only three 1920 Type 9 Square Pennies over the last 46 years, this coin being one of them. This particular Type 9 is distinctively brilliant for quality: the very reason why it was displayed at the ‘Kookas in the Cathedral’ Exhibition in Melbourne, in 2007. Proof-like on both obverse and reverse, the obverse in particular has handsome golden toning. A strong statement given that the 1920 dated coins are noted for dull surfaces and inconsistencies in their toning. (Even the Type 9 that was offered several years ago at auction from the Melbourne Museum Collection was noted as having a serious metal flaw.) The Type 9 Square Penny is fondly referred to as the 'Square Legend Kooka', for it features a square legend on the obverse, instead of the circular style used in the Type 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12. It is the rarity and the distinct square legend style that has made this coin inordinately popular with collectors and investors.

An extremely rare piece, we have recorded the sale of only three 1919 Type 5 Square Pennies over the last 46 years, this coin being one of them. There is however another aspect to the Type 5 that adds to its collector appeal. It has a unique design. No other Square Penny bears the kookaburra design of the Type 5. This coin has a deeply etched design, smooth fields and attractive toning. And was chosen as the representative example of its type in the 'Kookas in the Cathedral' Exhibition held at the ANZ Bank in 2007. That great collectors only ever own great coins is evidenced in this piece. We note that it was once held in the famed Osborne Collection.

Over the last forty six years, we have sold six examples of the 1919 Type 3 Square Penny, this coin being one of them. And that's not sales per year. That is the total number of coins sold over a period of forty-plus years. When you take on board the text relating to the 1919 Type 5 and 1919 Type 6 Square Pennies it is clear that the Type 3 is the more readily available out of those coins struck in 1919. And that's completely OK. The coin is still extremely rare in the market place (compare it to the availability of the 1930 Penny) but comes at a price that is palatable for the majority of collectors. To add further to its appeal, the Type 3 has a unique design. No other Square Penny bears the kookaburra design of the Type 3. This Type 3 Square Penny has superb quality traits: proof-like surfaces and pale toning: the very reason why it was displayed in Melbourne in 2007 at the ’Kookas in the Cathedral’ Exhibition.

The Square Penny collector that aspires to completion will, at some stage, have to contemplate the purchase of a Square Halfpenny. And herein lies a difficulty for there are NOT a lot of options when it comes to the Square Halfpennies. The coins were struck in only two years, they being 1920 and 1921, immediately limiting the choices. The 1920 Square Halfpenny is known by only three examples and is a $300,000-plus item. Which is why the 1921 Square Halfpenny is so popular. The coin is still extremely rare. (We would estimate that perhaps nine to ten examples are known.) And it is, relatively speaking, reasonably priced. This is a well detailed 1921 Square Halfpenny with light streaky toning.

An extremely rare, cut Third segment of a Spanish Silver Dollar counter stamped on the obverse and from the esteemed Pridmore Collection. A Government Proclamation on 2 November 1814 ordered that 7,920 Spanish Dollars, be expressly imported to be cut up and put into circulation. The cut segments were counter stamped on the obverse with ‘TR’, ‘G’ and ‘4’: the TR relates to the moneyer, the G for Grenada. And the 4 for the value of 4 Bitts. Testimony to its rarity and collector appeal, this coin sold for $7,700 on an estimate of $2,500 in 2007.

This is an extremely rare cut half segment of a Charles III Spanish Silver Dollar, counter stamped SV (St. Vincent) three times within a plain rectangular indent with bevelled corners. On 8 December 1797, an Act was introduced to prohibit and control the importation of counterfeit coins into the colony of St. Vincent. The Act also aimed to regulate and legitimise the currency by overstamping cut dollars with the stamp 'SV'. The Act saw the formation of a Committee to oversee the stamping of the half dollars. The Committee was required to affix the stamp SV within 30 days of the passing of the Act. The Committee was also charged with the responsibility of punishing counterfeiters.

This Spanish Silver Dollar was struck at the Lima Mint, Peru, in 1786 and features the portrait of the Spanish King, Charles III. Highly lustrous, the coin has original mint bloom on the reverse. Historians have a fascinating insight into the extensive practice of counter stamping Spanish Silver Dollars in the 18th century with this piece. The counter stamp ‘DC‘ on the obverse in a plain rectangular indent is unpublished. There is some suggestion that it may have been used in the Danish Colonies of India. (Denmark held colonial possessions in India for more than two centuries.)

Very rare. A centre segment of a Spanish Silver Dollar stamped on the obverse with a script ‘T’ (shown above left), a pellet at centre and radiating design. This cut silver dollar was issued in response to the passing of a Currency Act in Tobago on the 17 August, 1798.

The 1930 Penny is legendary and its star status has made it one of Australia's most valuable rare coins. The prime rule in selecting a 1930 Penny is to pick a coin that is visually very attractive. Acquire a piece that you would be proud to show your family and friends, one that has an heirloom feel about it. The 1930 Penny that we have for sale fits that profile in every respect and is as per the photographs above and at right.

This 1923 Specimen Sovereign is one of two held by private collectors and comes from a fabulous era in numismatics, the twenties. Furthermore it is superbly struck and is sold with the ‘Quartermaster’ tag. It does not get much better than that. While it is a fact that in accumulating the Quartermaster Collection, Tom Hadley’s focus was primarily on circulating coinage, he also had a strong interest in Australian proof and specimen gold rarities, attracted by their quality and extreme rarity. One coin of which was this stunning 1923 Specimen quality Sydney Mint Sovereign. That he chose to acquire this coin and place it alongside his million-dollar 1920 Sydney Mint Proof Sovereign speaks volumes on the quality and rarity of this coin and the respect with which it was held.

A coin does not have to be ‘the finest known’ to appeal to us for we recognise that there is a market for the 1813 Dump at all quality levels and all dollar levels. When William Henshall created the nation's first coin, the 1813 Dump, he punched a hole into a Spanish Silver Dollar. The Dump was the centre piece that fell out of the Dollar, over stamped with its value of fifteen pence, date of 1813, a crown and the issuing authority of New South Wales. While we acknowledge this coin has undergone circulation (if only it could talk) it has all the details that define an 1813 Dump and clearly reflects its origins by showing the design of the original Spanish Dollar from which it was created; a much sought after and seldom seen quality. This is an affordable example of Henshall’s masterpiece, struck with the A/1 dies, offered at a price that won’t break the bank.

Let’s be clear. A coin doesn’t have to be uncirculated to appeal to us. We are the first to acknowledge that Australia’s classic coin rarities are in demand at all quality levels and at all dollar levels. However we also acknowledge that it's not easy to come across circulated examples that fit our selection criteria … which is why we are so excited about this particular 1813 Colonial Dump. The coin has all of the technical and aesthetic attributes that a collector could wish for but without the hefty price tag. We have graded the reverse of this Dump at About Very Fine with the obverse higher again at Very Fine. That’s at least two grades higher than your average example. The Dump with a value of fifteen pence circulated widely in the colony the very reason why most of them are found today with minimal design attributes, harsh gouges and knocks and many are noted as having been submerged in water, developing porous surfaces. Not so with this coin. It is a beauty.

From the moment this 1861 Sydney Mint Sovereign was struck, it was destined to become a prized collector piece. The striking is sharp and the design highly detailed. Given that this coin was struck more than a century ago in the factory-like conditions of the nation’s first mint, the Sydney Mint, makes it all the more remarkable. Furthermore, it has been brilliantly preserved. The coin was presented to us painstakingly wrapped up into a minute parcel in tissue paper and had been hidden away for decades. The surfaces are superb, the edges intact. The coin still shows its original lustre. This is a rare date Sydney Mint Type II sovereign offered in the ultimate quality of Choice Uncirculated. It is a stand-alone investment piece. It also is the perfect option for the collector seeking to complete a portrait set of Australia’s sovereigns 1855 to 1931. For more information on this coin. And to discover the opportunities that a portrait set presents … READ MORE.

We invite you to scrutinise the obverse and reverse of this amazing 1921 Square Penny. It is an ‘exceptional’ quality piece and we particularly like the inclusion of the word ‘exceptional’ here. The coin has impeccable satin fields, a strong design and legend and perfect edges. It is a fact that Square Pennies are scarce. But it also is a fact that they are extremely difficult coins to find in premium quality. Consider this 1921 Square Penny. It has a quality rating of Choice Uncirculated and we ask the question how often do you see that attached to a Square Penny? The answer is not very often. We can count on the fingers of two hands the number of Choice Uncirculated 1921 Square Pennies that we have handled over an entire professional career. The reason is simply that the Square Pennies were test pieces and were not struck to the exacting standards of proof coining. 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. Given the outstanding quality traits of this coin we can only assume that this Square Penny must have become a prized collectable very early on its life.

We have built our reputation for handling the very best Australian coins by having pieces such as this 1927 Proof Canberra Florin in our ‘stable of prized rarities’. In our view, this coin is the absolute finest Canberra Florin of them all and over the past forty years we have controlled this coin’s destiny by always placing it with a Coinworks client. To the naked eye this 1927 Proof Canberra Florin is an absolute stunner. And taking it under the glass only re-confirms its absolutely, sensational state. It passes the closest scrutiny. The Baldwin florins are reputed to have been hand-picked by Baldwin himself at the Melbourne Mint in 1927. The coins are lauded as having perfection in the blanks, super smooth. Ice like. The perfection continues in the edges. And they possess the most magnificent pink / violet hue which is believed related to their original storage in Baldwin’s vaults. One of our clients, a former owner, saw it on display at our stand at the recent Sydney Money Expo. Not having owned it for more than fifteen years, she could still identify the coin as being once part of her collection. Testimony to the coin’s unforgettable attributes.

There is one date within the Square Penny series that always triggers our interest, and that is 1920. While all Square Pennies are rare, with appearances on the market that can be counted on the fingers of one hand, those dated 1920 are particularly scarce. Take this coin for example. It is a world class rarity. We estimate that perhaps twelve examples of the Type 7 Square Penny are available to collectors. So, in terms of accessibility, what does that mean? The buyer that passes on this coin will more than likely wait at least one to two years for another example to come onto the market. Such rarity has earned the 1920 dated Square Pennies the title of the glamour coins of the series. And the very reason why they always command our attention. This 1920 Type 7 Square Penny has been well struck, the edges are uniform and the design highly detailed. Visually impactful, the coin has superb proof-like surfaces, most unusual for a coin struck from cupro-nickel.

The 1852 Adelaide Pound is the nation’s first gold coin, struck at the Government Assay Office in Adelaide. For most Australian rare coin collectors, acquiring an Adelaide Pound fulfils a lifetime’s ambition. The first tip for buyers of Adelaide Pounds is to work through a budget because the coins come in a range of qualities and a range of prices. Irrespective of the budget, buyers should always select an Adelaide Pound that is visually very attractive. Take in the design elements, the crown in particular. Take a close look at the edges, the fields and the legend. Bottom line here, is that you should acquire a piece that you would be proud to show your family and friends, one that has an heirloom feel about it. The coin that we have for sale fits those protocols perfectly and is as per the photographs above and at right.

This 1930 Penny is a cut above those most commonly found and is graded Nearly Very Fine with an almost complete central diamond and six clear and plump pearls in the crown. The reverse is graded similarly and has strong upper and lower scrolls. Handsome chestnut toning, glossy fields, a strong ‘1930’ date, this coin will make owning an example of Australia’s most famous copper rarity a reality for just one buyer. It is a coin that you will be proud to show your family and friends. And price watchers will note that it is being offered at a very advantageous price.

This 1956 Proof Penny was struck at the Perth Mint as a limited mintage collector’s item and was never intended to be used in every-day use, much less jingle in a pocket. And doesn’t it show. The coin is a solid, blazing orange with impeccable surfaces and presents quality that is impossible to improve upon. The mintage of the 1956 Perth Proof Penny is a meagre 417 making it one of the least available in the series of proofs 1955 to 1963. And while the smallest mintage in the series is the 1955 Perth Mint Proof Penny and Halfpenny with a mintage of 301, for us and in our quest for top quality the 1956 Perth Penny is by far the hardest to find. We regard it as the key date. As a closing comment. Last month we sold a Collection of Melbourne Proof coins. The coins were stunning and the response to our offer was overwhelming; the set could have sold three times over. This 1956 Proof Penny was held by the very same client.

The Perth proofs come high on our list of recommendations to clients. So high that when Melbourne journalist Anthony Black asked Coinworks to list ten coin rarities that were priced below $ 10,000 - and were destined for growth – the Perth Mint proofs struck between 1957 and 1963 were at the very top of our list. Available individually. The option is yours to select.

To say that your coin was originally owned by Henry Cary Dangar is meaningful. Now add the names Sharps Pixley and Philip Spalding. And, if you are a collector, that’s very impressive. Dangar, Sharps Pixley and Spalding are noted names in the rare coin industry. This 1893 Proof Sovereign was originally owned by Henry Cary Dangar, lawyer and New South Wales Parliamentarian, a collector active from the 1880s until his death in 1917. Bequeathed to his son, Dangar’s Collection was sold by Glendinings London in 1953, where it was acquired by Sharps Pixley Bullion Traders, London. The Sharps Pixley Collection created numismatic history, so important were the coins it contained, when it was eventually sold in 1980 by Spink Auctions. The coin was acquired in 1980 by Philip Spalding from the Sharps Pixley Collection. It remained in the Spalding family holding for more than thirty-five years.

Over the years we have sourced some truly remarkable material, and at all dollar levels. And this collection of forty pre-decimal proof coins struck by the Melbourne Mint is genuinely remarkable. When it came across the counter last week our eyes lit up. We had sold the Collection several years before and we knew the minute we laid eyes on it that we could only have sourced it from one of two collectors. We checked and we were correct. The original owner was a Melbourne collector, an expert on Australian proof coinage and has authored many articles on the same. His coins are distinctively sensational.

This superb quality 1916 Specimen Penny is extremely rare. Affirmation of its scarcity, it is the third only example that we have offered in a career that spans forty five plus years. The coin is sharply struck and under the glass, it shows the heavy striations associated with distinct die preparation. Brilliantly preserved, it is offered more than a century after it was struck, with beautiful blue / purple / golden toning.

For most Australian rare coin collectors, acquiring an 1852 Adelaide Pound fulfils a lifetime’s ambition. The coin holds a special place in Australia’s history and in the hearts of Australian rare coin collectors like no other. Struck one year after gold was discovered in Victoria in 1851, it is the nation’s very first gold coin. The Adelaide Pound is rare, so finding an example that doesn't break the bank is no easy task. Which is why we are so excited about this coin. We have spent more than a year trying to secure an example that fits our protocols, is well presented, but is suitable to most collector's budgets. This is an extremely attractive 1852 Adelaide Pound and shows minimal effects of circulation. It is a piece that you would be proud to show your family and friends.

We have decided that we will let the photographs - and in particular the close-up shot of the Crown - do most of the talking in our offering of this extremely rare, superb quality 1930 Penny. The pie chart in the Read More section also tells its own story and clearly shows the rarity of a coin at this quality level. The technical details of this coin are summarised as follows. The King’s Crown shows six clear and plump pearls. Also a prominent central diamond, the four sides of the diamond clearly visible so that you don’t have to struggle to see it. The reverse is classified similarly at Very Fine. This coin is three times as scarce as your average 1930 Penny. Well preserved, it obviously became a collectable early in its life.

Had the craftsman that tooled out this Holey Dollar been a numismatist he would have recognised that the Spanish Silver Dollar that he was about to deface was a great numismatic rarity. The Silver Dollar was struck in 1790 and had the legend of King Charles IIII but featured the portrait of the deceased King Charles III, who died two years earlier in 1788. This Holey Dollar is referred to as a transitional Holey Dollar, struck from a silver dollar that was created during a period of transition at the Mexico Mint when the portrait of the new King had not been received. Irrespective of the issuing authority, transitional Holey Dollars are extremely rare. 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 Uncirculated New South Wales Holey Dollar that we are currently offering. This Holey Dollar from the British colony of Dominica is supremely rare.

Whenever we are offered Proof Sets from the era 1955 to 1963, we always check if there is a Melbourne Mint 1959 Proof Set in the offering. It is the hardest to find in the series of Melbourne proofs, so if it is available we are excited. Moving beyond our excitement we know to carefully scrutinise the quality of the coppers in the 1959 Proof Set for they are the driving force for investment in this set and are almost impossible to find in a superior state. The majority of specimens that we see are mismatched and almost bordering on the ugly. Now take a look at this 1959 Melbourne Mint Proof Set. Superb proof silver. Perfectly matched and beautifully toned proof coppers. This set is genuinely rare and available at a great price. We hope we have given you sufficient reason to read more.

The 1923 Halfpenny is the glamour coin of the Australian halfpenny series: the nation’s scarcest halfpenny. And this particular 1923 Halfpenny is a stand out piece. The coin is presented in a remarkable state of preservation with glossy, smooth surfaces and a hint of circulation. A full central diamond, six crisp pearls and the appearance of the seventh and eighth pearls.

This 1930 Penny has a quality classification of ‘Good Fine’ with six pearls in the Kings crown and a partial central diamond. The reverse is classified at a higher quality level of ‘About Very Fine’. Handsome chestnut toning, minimal marks in the field, a strong ‘1930’ date, this coin will make owning an example of Australia’s most famous copper rarity a reality for just one buyer.

History has judged the British colony of Dominica (in the Caribbean) as being somewhat of a trail blazer in the creation of Holey Dollars and Dumps. Embarrassed by the lack of English currency, Dominica took up the practice of ‘holing’ Spanish silver dollars and adapting the mutilated coins to a local currency as early as 1760. More than half a century earlier than the penal colony of New South Wales. This extremely rare 1798 Dominica Holey Dollar was created from a 1797 Mexico Mint Silver Dollar that was pierced with a hole etched by 15 notches. The Dump, also issued in 1798, was the centre plug that fell out of the hole during the striking of the Holey Dollar and features 15 notches, a well-defined script ’D’ and a small star within the ‘D’. Both the Holey Dollar and the Dump show minimal circulation and are extremely well preserved.

The 1918 Perth Mint Half Sovereign and the 1930 Penny share a common bond: history records that both coins were accidentally struck. Their chance minting, in minuscule numbers, has created two world class rarities. And the mystery and intrigue surrounding their striking has fuelled their demand.

The reality is the photographs - and the close up shot of the crown - will do most of the talking on this superb good Very Fine 1930 Penny. With a full central diamond and the smudging of the seventh and eighth pearl, this coin is four to five grades higher than those 1930 Pennies most frequently sighted. We rate this coin as being in the top 3 per cent. (See pie chart attached.) Already have a 1930 Penny? Then consider a trade and upgrade your coin.

There are five 1930 Pennies that stand out from the rest, acknowledged as being the absolute finest examples of Australia’s favourite copper rarity. And this coin is one of them. Waiting lists are the norm for a 1930 Penny at this quality level.

This is an extremely rare Holey Dollar, struck by Canada’s Prince Edward Island, and is one of seventy nine (79) known specimens. While Governor Lachlan Macquarie was coining his Holey Dollars and Dumps in Sydney, a similar scheme was unfolding across the other side of the globe in Prince Edward Island, Canada. In 1813 the Island’s Lieutenant Governor, Charles Douglass Smith, created an internal currency for the British colony by cutting and over stamping 1000 Spanish Silver Dollars. The silver dollars were holed and over stamped with a circle with ten teeth like projections positioned (partially) on the King’s forehead.

The Bank of Victoria was founded by Dr Thomas Black, a physician from the Richmond area of Melbourne. The bank was registered in Victoria in 1852 and commenced operations in January 1853 as the Bank of Victoria Limited. By 1887 the bank had 65 branches, all in Victoria. The Bank of Victoria amalgamated with the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited in 1927 and eventually became part of the National Bank of Australia in 1981. Archived for more than a century by London engravers and printers Bradbury & Wilkinson, this high denomination colonial note retains its original characteristics and colour unaffected by the passing of time.

The London Chartered Bank was formed in London in 1852 and one year later established branches in both Melbourne and Sydney. In 1882, the bank opened a Brisbane branch. During the financial crisis of 1893 this revered establishment was forced to suspend its payments but only for four months, later re-opening its doors. The London Chartered Bank of Australia lives on through its subsequent mergers. In 1921 the bank merged with the English, Scottish and Australian Bank (ES&A) which in turn amalgamated with the ANZ in 1970. The note has an original crispness in its paper and vibrant colours that defies time.

The 1921 Square Pennies are the most accessible - and affordable – coins in the entire Square Penny series. There is no suggestion here that the 1921 Square Pennies are available at the drop of a hat. Perhaps twenty Type 11 Square Pennies are known, which for the buyer translates into a waiting time of up to a year for an example to become available. (Compare that to the 1930 Penny where 1500 to 2000 are believed to exist.)

The 1855 Sydney Mint Half Sovereign has a unique status as Australia’s very first half sovereign - struck at the nation’s first mint, the Sydney Mint. The coin is amazingly rare. Less than fifty examples are known today and let’s be clear on this point. That’s not fifty at each quality level. That’s fifty across all quality levels. (To put this figure into perspective, the industry estimates that 1500 to 2000 1930 Pennies, across all quality levels, are known.)

The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is one of the prized rarities in the Sydney Mint Sovereign series and has pride of place in every Australian sovereign collection. The coin also has international standing. It is the nation’s first gold sovereign minted at the Sydney Mint - the nation’s very first mint – and brings to any collection a wonderful and everlasting history.

The State Library of New South Wales, confirms through its archival documents the extreme rarity of this 1926 Specimen Sovereign. The Library also confirms the coin’s importance and ceremonious origins. The coin was struck on the 11 August 1926 - the very last day of operation of the Sydney Mint - in a ceremony attended by numismatic luminaries such as Mr A M Le Souef and Sir William Dixson.

The 1813 Dump and its partner, the Holey Dollar, were the first coins struck in Australia. Not only are they very rare, but their fascinating history has made them two of the world’s most famous coins. This 1813 Dump is a premium quality piece. Presented in a quality level of good Very Fine it is ranked in the top eight per cent of known surviving examples and is definitely one to tuck away for the future.

We are the only company to have handled all of the design types and the metals that make up the Square Penny series. And we have seen the full spectrum of qualities from the absolute best down to the very poorest. And this 1920 Type 7 Square Penny is amongst the very best. Acquired in 1995 by a Melbourne collector, the coin has been stored in a bank vault since the day it was bought.

The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is the one coin that has pride of place in every sovereign collection. As Australia’s first gold sovereign minted at the Sydney Mint - the nation’s very first mint - it brings to any collection a wonderful and everlasting history. But the 1855 Sydney Mint sovereign offers more than history. In the quality level offered here it also is extremely rare.

This 1937 Proof Shilling is a coin fit for royalty. Literally. It is unique in private hands. The only other known example was struck for George VI and is housed in the Royal Coin Collection housed at Windsor Castle. Only a person of influence would ever have had access to such a striking. No surprise therefore that the original owner was Sir Robert Johnson, Deputy Mint Master of the Royal Mint London.

Eighty years (1937 – 2017) have elapsed since the Melbourne Mint issued the 1937 Crown. While one million coins were released into circulation, only 100 coins were struck to proof quality as collector pieces to gift to dignitaries and sell to the collecting public. This coin is one of the finest examples out of the original mintage of 100 Proof Crowns, a superb FDC example with unblemished mirror fields contrasting a deeply etched design.

This coin is of the highest rarity and for three very basic reasons. The first is the inclusion of the word ‘proof’ in its description which indicates that this coin was struck as a collector piece – and was not struck for circulation. The second is the date ‘1927’. In terms of proof pennies, ‘1927’ is the rare one. The third defining aspect of this coin is its quality. It is one of the very best with much original copper brilliance.

No one could have envisaged in 1887 when the mint master authorized the striking of the Queen Victoria Young Head Shield Sovereign that the coin would one day become a world class rarity. Nor can we imagine how this particular 1887 Sovereign, struck in the factory conditions of the Melbourne Mint, came through the production process to become a prized collector piece. Brilliantly preserved, it must have been put aside soon after it was struck.

This 1897 Proof Half Sovereign is a prized collector piece. We have traced its provenance back to the year in which it was struck when it became the property of wealthy London businessman John G Murdoch. History records that Murdoch, an avid collector, financed the striking of the proof half sovereigns in 1897 at the Melbourne Mint. Three were believed struck, each coin featuring the Veiled Head portrait of Queen Victoria. This coin, is to our knowledge, the only example out of the original mintage to be sighted on the open market.

This 1872 Sovereign is pivotal to Australia’s gold coin history for it represents the very first year of sovereign production at the Melbourne Mint and depicts the Young Head design of Queen Victoria with the St George reverse. Not only the first year of production at the mint in Melbourne, but this coin has the lowest recorded mintage of the entire Young Head Shield series, from both the Sydney and Melbourne Mint. (History records that the dies dated 1872 did not reach the Melbourne Mint until April of that year.)

It is our national symbol, the great Australian flying kangaroo. And it’s never looked as good as it does on this stunning limited edition 1948 Perth Mint Proof Penny. This is a brilliantly preserved proof, displaying a superb level of design detail. This coin is a work of art, as individual, and as beautiful, as an opal with qualities and colours that are simply unmatched by those proofs issued from the Melbourne Mint.

This 1897 Sydney Mint Half Sovereign is the absolute finest of its year. That’s not only our opinion, it also was the opinion of the Auction House when it was offered for sale in November 2007. A fiercely contested bidding war saw the coin sell for 50 per cent above its pre-auction estimate of $10,000. Gem Uncirculated is the highest quality level that a collector can aspire to and it is very rarely ever seen, particularly amongst gold coins.

We have been trying to secure a Holey Dollar below the $ 75,000 level for at least twelve months. The coin had to conform to our selection protocols. And meet our price expectations. The combination proved very difficult to find … until now. This coin fits the bill and will make owning a Holey Dollar a reality for one collector.

From the day this 1860 Sydney Mint Sovereign was struck, it was destined to become a prized collector piece for the striking is outstanding: the design highly detailed. Given that this coin was struck in factory-like conditions at the nation’s first mint, the Sydney Mint, it makes the coin all the more remarkable. Furthermore it has been brilliantly preserved, painstakingly wrapped up into a minute parcel in tissue paper, hidden away for decades. The surfaces are superb. The denticles crisp, the coin still shows its original lustre.

This Holey Dollar was struck from a Spanish Silver Dollar that was minted in 1803 and depicts the portrait and legend of Charles IIII. The original silver dollar is graded Good Very Fine and has uniformly toned to a glorious, soft gun-metal blue grey. The surfaces are smooth and there is original lustre in the legend Carolus IIII. The counter-stamps New South Wales, 1813 and Five Shillings are of an exceptional nature: the lettering highlighted by original golden lustre and beautiful colours. The technical grading of the counter-stamps is Extremely Fine.

This 1868 Sydney Mint Sovereign is a remarkable piece of colonial history. The coin was issued at Australia’s first mint, the Sydney Mint nearly 150 years ago yet it looks like it was plucked off the production line yesterday. The design imparted a uniquely Australian flavour into the nation’s first official gold coinage, a young Queen Victoria wearing a sprig of native banksia in her hair. And the word AUSTRALIA appearing on the reverse. And while this may seem trite … ‘Australia’ only appeared on Australia’s sovereigns between 1855 and 1870 making the Sydney Mint design one of the most innovative and important in Australia’s sovereign history.

When Melbourne journalist Anthony Black asked Coinworks to list ten coin rarities that were priced below $ 10,000 - and were destined for growth – the Perth Mint proofs struck between 1957 and 1963 were high on our list. Coins such as this 1963 Proof Penny and Halfpenny would have been amongst them. Priced at a level that attracts inordinate buyer interest and it is the demand coupled with the extreme scarcity of quality examples that will ultimately deliver capital growth. These are limited edition collector coins: a popular choice amongst our clients, in particular those that are looking to tuck away something truly special for children or grandchildren.