Recent Sales

On 1 July 2020, Coinworks will have been trading twenty years. We are kick starting the celebrations and for one week only, we are offering this collection of twelve stunning copper proofs at a celebratory price of $15,000 (normal R.R.P. $21,000).

This Proof 1899 Half Sovereign is a golden opportunity. Your chance to acquire an extremely rare and highly important piece of proof gold, at the conservative price of $65,000. This coin is a showpiece of our industry. Tick the box for quality. It is brilliant and flawless. And tick the box for rarity. Exceedingly rare, only one other example has surfaced over the last century. And tick the box for importance. In 1899, the Footscray Football Club (now Western Bulldogs) won their second premiership in the club’s history. It is the coin that has it all ... including the price.

This Proof Sovereign was struck at the Melbourne Mint in 1893. It is exceedingly rare. Only one other example has surfaced over the last century. It also is exceedingly important. In 1893, Australia changed the obverse portrait of the nation's sovereigns to depict Queen Victoria in her twilight years. Expertly crafted from 22 carat gold, the coin exudes luxury and wealth a dichotomy to the economic and social horrors of the year in which it was struck. And the city in which it was struck. For Australia in 1893 was experiencing a depression that lasted longer than anywhere else in the world and Melbourne was its epicentre. This Proof 1893 Sovereign is an enduring symbol of our past.

Numismatic history and numismatic catalogues were re-written in 1999, when this Proof 1932 Penny appeared at auction. Up until then no one knew that a Proof Penny from 1932 even existed. As you would expect, the market reacted and frenetic bidding saw the coin sell for nearly seventy per cent above its pre-auction estimate. This is a stunning coin with impeccable mirror fields, full underlying copper brilliance on both obverse and reverse. The opaline colours of the obverse in particular are simply glorious.

This coin is for the buyer that is seeking a supreme quality 1930 Penny. 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 show minimal signs of circulation and are smooth and glossy. We would place this coin in the top 5 per cent of surviving examples. 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. A 1930 Penny at this quality level would be offered on the market, perhaps once every few years. And this great coin rarity is available now. Already have a 1930 Penny? Then consider trading it back as part-payment on this stunning coin.

There are two things we know about high quality 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereigns. NUMBER ONE. They are extremely rare. You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereigns we have sold at this quality level. NUMBER TWO. They are exceedingly important. The '55 Sovereign is the nation's very first sovereign and will always have pride of place in any collection. So, if quality 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereigns are difficult to find today, then they are going to be even more difficult to find as the years roll on. Which is why we believe that high quality 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereigns are great coins to tuck away for the future.

Prices of Australian pre-decimal proofs rocketed between 2001 and 2002 when a collection of elite Proof Melbourne coppers came up at auction. This Proof 1928 Halfpenny was a part of the collection. The coins had never been sighted before, the vendor indicating that he had bought them from renowned collector Roy Farman in the 1950s. Farman, in turn, had held them from the day they were struck. We attended the auction and the competition for acquisition was as strong as we have ever seen. A case in point, this Proof 1928 Halfpenny, sold for $13,400 on a pre-auction estimate of $7500 and it is noted that the auction estimate reflected price guides at the time. And the reason for the heady prices?

The saying that “GREAT COLLECTORS ONLY EVER OWN GREAT COINS” is exemplified in this stunning matched pair of Proof 1938 Penny and Proof 1938 Halfpenny. A superb FDC, with full copper brilliance, the coins were formerly held by renowned American collector John Jay Pitman and, in 2005, sold to the equally renowned Madrid Collection of Australian Rare Coins.

How would today's collectors react if Governor Lachlan Macquarie had set aside the first forty Holey Dollars. And the first forty Dumps. And produced them with an identifying mark that made them undeniably connected to the very first production run of Australia's very first coins. Over the moon I would have thought. Unwittingly that is exactly what die sinker and engraver Joshua Payne did when he set up the dies and commenced production of the nation's first gold coin at the Government Assay Office, Adelaide. The reverse die, with its simple, elegant beaded inner circle cracked, the mishap discovered only after forty-plus coins were produced. And then, when he swapped over the reverse die, he replaced it with one that had a completely different design. Joshua Payne's actions unknowingly created a rarity of the highest order, the Adelaide Pound Type I, struck during the very first production run of the nation's first gold coin. Defined by a reverse with the beaded inner circle and the tell-tale crack in the DWT area of the legend, perhaps forty examples are known. Technical shots are shown in READ MORE.

The Numismatic Association of Australia (N.A.A.) is one of the industry's most venerated institutions. Their journal is professionally bound and presented to subscribers annually, the contributors to the journal are some of the finest numismatists of our time. When the N.A.A. decided to publish an article on William Henshall and his role as Australia's first Mint Master in striking the Holey Dollar and Dump ... they chose this coin as the sole front cover item of their publication. And with good reason. This Dump has unique qualities. Notice the outline of the lion. And the castle, with its battlements and windows. These are the design elements of the original Spanish Silver Dollar that Henshall used to create this coin. Its presence is highly prized. We have handled only one other Dump that so clearly displays its Spanish Silver Dollar origins. (A copy of the N.A.A. Journal will be provided with this coin.)

Prices of Australian pre-decimal proofs rocketed between 2001 and 2002 when a collection of elite Proof Melbourne coppers came up at auction. This Proof 1928 Penny was a part of the collection. The coins had never been sighted before, the vendor indicating that he had bought them from renowned collector Roy Farman in the 1950s. Farman, in turn, had held them from the day they were struck. We attended the auction and the competition for acquisition was as strong as we have ever seen. A case in point, this Proof 1928 Penny, sold for $19,000 on a pre-auction estimate of $10,000 and it is noted that the auction estimate reflected price guides at the time. And the reason for the heady prices?

This is a superb 1930 Penny, in the top 15 per cent of surviving examples, with an obverse grading of Nearly Very Fine and a reverse grading of Very Fine. Collectors will note the almost full central diamond and six very plump pearls in the king’s crown. Collectors will also take on board the price. Presented in a quality level of Nearly Very Fine, this coin is available at the same price as one graded two notches down at Good Fine and that's a $5000 price advantage over our normal R.R.P. So, if you have been sitting back watching the market and waiting for the "right" 1930 Penny to come along ... then this is the coin for you. Technical shots are provided in the READ MORE section below.

There are two aspects we always consider when we are checking out an Adelaide Pound Type II. First up is the eye appeal. For us, the coin must look good. And secondly, we look at the strength of the strike, just how well the design was executed during the minting process. This Adelaide Pound scores highly on both counts. It is an impressive example of the nation’s first gold coin, well preserved with original golden lustre, particularly strong on the reverse. And the design has been well executed, the crown is strong, the edge denticles are complete (making it a definite exception to those most commonly found) and the legend Government Assay Office is exceptionally strong (again an exception). And this stunning Adelaide Pound Type II is available now. Technical shots are in the READ MORE section.

This is simply a great 1930 Penny. The obverse is graded Good Fine and the reverse a higher quality grading of Very Fine. Collectors will note the partial central diamond and six plump pearls in the king’s crown. Collectors will also take on board the price. Presented in a quality level of Good Fine, this coin is available at the same price as one graded one notch down at Fine. It is our MARCH/APRIL SPECIAL, offering a price advantage of $4500 over our normal R.R.P. If you have been sitting back watching the market and waiting for the 'right' 1930 Penny to come along ... then this is the coin for you.

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 FOUR 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. In the READ MORE section, we have included close-up photographs of this coin and, as a point of comparison, an average quality 1930 Penny. It makes for interesting viewing.

You will have a fabulous insight into Australia’s early financial history with this extremely rare 1893 Bank of Adelaide One Pound. The Bank of Adelaide was incorporated by an Act of Parliament under a Deed of Settlement on 5 December 1865, with an authorized capital of £250,000 in 50,000 £5 shares. Regarded as a pillar of the Adelaide establishment, the Bank of Adelaide was named after the city in which it was formed. This One Pound Specimen note survives today as one of twenty known examples.

The 1813 Holey Dollar is the nation's first coin. Its standing means that it is a very valuable piece. The coin also is extremely rare with less than 200 examples available to collectors. Over the past few years that has been a noticeable increase in demand for Holey Dollars, steadily pushing prices higher. Securing a quality Holey Dollar priced below $100,000 has become a very difficult task. Which is why this coin is so appealing. Yes, it has circulated but the design details of the original Spanish Dollar are clear. And the over-stamping of New South Wales and the date 1813 is strong. This coin will make owning a Holey Dollar a reality for just one buyer. It is affordable. Conservatively priced, it offers excellent buying value.

If you can incorporate the word ‘exceptional’ into a coin’s description, its investment value is enhanced. Exceptional quality. Exceptional rarity. That word ‘exceptional’ is simply the qualification that your coin stands out from the rest making it more appealing to any potential buyer. And so, it is with this coin. This Holey Dollar is distinguished as being the very finest of the T. Knight counter-stamped Holey Dollars.

There is an immeasurable pride in owning an example of Australia’s first coin, the Holey Dollar. And if you can open not one, but TWO, of the most respected books on Holey Dollars and see your coin detailed and illustrated, then the feelings go even deeper. It is an affirmation of the proud history that accompanies your coin. And so it is with this Holey Dollar. It is illustrated in Philip Spalding's esteemed book, “The World of the Holey Dollar”. And the internationally respected “Holey Dollars of New South Wales” by Messrs. Mira & Noble. And it is true that only a handful of collectors can ever lay claim to having their Holey Dollars in both books.

Every couple of years we come across a 1930 Penny that is a genuine bargain. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does happen, we grab it with both hands knowing that Australia’s classic coin rarity is wanted at all dollar levels. And all quality levels. This 1930 Penny has the hint of a central diamond and six pearls on the obverse. The reverse has strong upper and lower scrolls and complete inner beading. This is an impressive 1930 Penny offered at an even more impressive price of $21,000.

A Good Very Fine 1813 Dump is a high quality piece and is genuinely hard to find. A chance opportunity. A Good Very Fine 1813 Dump that has been owned by Dr. John Chapman is a once-in-a-decade opportunity. Dr John Chapman has been involved in the Australian numismatic market as a foremost collector for as long as we can remember. He is as learned as he is well respected and this Dump was part of his prized collection. It is a coin that has all the attributes that a collector would look for in a colonial Dump including the original Spanish Dollar design (particularly strong), complete denticles and the presence of the ‘H’ for Henshall on the reverse. It is an impactful coin, the very reason why respected author and numismatist Greg McDonald features it in his annual Pocket Price Guide. And has so for many, many years. Technical shots are provided.

Prices of Australian pre-decimal proofs rocketed between 2000 and 2002 when a collection of elite Proof Melbourne coppers came up at auction. This Proof 1936 was a part of the collection. The coins had never been sighted before, the vendor indicating that he had bought them in the 1950s from renowned collector Roy Farman. He, in turn, 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. A case in point, this Proof 1936 Penny, sold for more than three times its pre-auction estimate of $8000 and it is noted that the auction estimates reflected price guides at the time. And the reason for the heady prices?

This 1852 Adelaide Pound is offered in a remarkable state. The grading level is Uncirculated, so it has never been used. And the coin is lustrous, in fact fully lustrous on the reverse and almost proof-like. There is only one explanation that we can offer as to its condition. The coin must have been tucked away soon after it was created. Dealers are aware. As are collectors. This coin offers a level of quality that is rarely offered. This is the second only Uncirculated Type II Adelaide Pound that we have offered over the past five years.

This Proof 1926 Halfpenny impressed the market when it came up at auction in July 1993. Competitive bidding saw it sell for $3000, well in excess of its then catalogue value and pre-auction estimate of $2000. The competitive bidding reflects the defining properties of the coin and its outstanding quality traits. This Proof 1926 Halfpenny was struck at the Melbourne Mint as a Coin of Record. Take it under the light and it is everything that you would expect from a proof coin. Super smooth, mirror-like surfaces radiating stunning colours. The extra bonus is that the coin has retained some original copper brilliance, particularly on the obverse. Furthermore, it is rare. This coin is the only Proof 1926 Halfpenny we have sold.

There are Adelaide Pounds. And then there is the HAMMEL Adelaide Pound, so named because it was formerly owned by one of the world's greatest 20th century gold coin collectors, Mortimer Hammel. It is one of the absolute finest examples of Australia’s first gold coin and when viewed it simply glows. Its highly lustrous, brilliant state implies that the coin must have been put aside soon after minting and has had special care ever since its striking. The person who acquires this Adelaide Pound will take their place in history, permanently associating themselves with both the coin and the famous Hammel name.

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. It is genuinely tough to secure an Adelaide Pound that fits our protocols, is well presented and 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 will be proud to show your family and friends.

When this 1959 Melbourne Mint Proof Set came across the counter our eyes lit up. It is unequivocally one of the finest we have seen. The 1959 Melbourne Mint Proof Set is notoriously difficult to acquire in top quality mainly due to the state of the copper penny and halfpenny. The coins tone. And while toning is quite obviously acceptable in the numismatic industry, for whatever reason the 1959 Proof Penny and the 1959 Proof Halfpenny tend to tone to a different degree and look mismatched. It is the state of the copper proofs within the 1959 Proof Set that leads us to say that, if you are a collector that is driven by quality, the 1959 Melbourne Mint Proof Set is the most difficult to acquire out of the entire series. As the photograph shows, the four silver coins are stunning, the two coppers superbly matched with original copper brilliance under a very light smoky toning.

Original Uncirculated quality. "Music" to a banknote collector's ears. Particularly when you are referring to a note that was issued at the commencement of World War II. Over and above its brilliant state, this 1939 Sheehan McFarlane Five Pounds is historically significant as the first Five Pounds of the George VI era. It is extremely rare and very affordable and is a far-sighted piece to tuck away for the future either for yourself, for your children or your grandchildren.

This 1930 Penny has a full central diamond and six plump pearls and it is these two aspects, the diamond and the pearls, that classifies this coin as one of the very best, in the top ten per cent. This coin will appeal to the buyer that has always wanted a 1930 Penny and has been looking for a top-grade example. It will also appeal to the investor for high quality 1930 Pennies, such as this coin, are extremely rare. We estimate that we would handle one, or at the very tops two, Very Fine 1930 Pennies annually. And price watchers will note that this 1930 Penny has been favourably priced.

This coin is a prized piece. It ticks all the boxes. Quality. Rarity. Pedigree. And historical standing. The 1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound has an exalted position in Australia’s currency history as the nation’s first gold coin. Furthermore it was minted in the very first production run of Adelaide Pounds. What we know today is that forty Cracked Die Adelaide Pounds are in collector’s hands and most of them have circulated with more than fifty per cent heavily circulated. The reality is that of the forty known Cracked Dies, only three are Uncirculated and this coin is one of the three, formerly owned by renowned gold coin collector, American Mortimer Hammel.

This 1930 Penny is the classic example of a coin that has circulated but has miraculously survived its time in circulation unscathed. We regard it as one of the nicest 1930 Pennies that we have sold. A glance at the photos, both mood and technical, shows it to be so. With this coin you can tick the box for QUALITY. The coin has survived its time in circulation with minimal affect. You can also tick the box on PRICE for at $29,500 this 1930 Penny is advantageously priced. (In our view it is a $30,000-plus coin.) But there is a third box relating to this coin that must be ticked. And that's the box titled VALUE FOR MONEY for over the next three weeks we are giving away a Choice Uncirculated 1930 Melbourne Mint Sovereign with every 1930 Penny sold. A great 1930 Penny has now become even greater with our bonus offer.

This coin, the 1921 Square Penny, is the most popular coin in the entire kookaburra square coin series. It has the exclusivity that rare coin buyers are seeking. One high quality Square Penny of this style would appear on the market perhaps once every year ... rare in anyone's language. And importantly, for buyers, this Square Penny is affordable.

The 1852 Adelaide Pound holds a very special place in Australia's history as the nation's first gold coin. It is an iconic Australian numismatic rarity, as is the 1930 Penny, the 1813 Holey Dollar and the 1813 Dump. Its status as Australia’s first gold coin ensures that it will always be sought after and strengthens its investment value. Its investment value is also enhanced by its rarity for we estimate that perhaps 250 examples are available to collectors, across all quality levels. The Adelaide Pound is a valuable coin so finding an example that doesn’t break the bank can be challenging which is why we are so excited by this coin. The coin has fared extremely well during its time in circulation, is well presented and is offered in a very popular price range.

A proof penny with original copper brilliance. And three glorious silver proofs, the shilling, sixpence and threepence. The four coins together make up a complete 1955 Melbourne Mint Proof Set. This Set is as IMPORTANT as it is RARE. Rare because only 1200 sets were issued. (This being one of the finest around.) Important because '1955' was the very first year that the Melbourne Mint commenced a proof coining program for collectors. And this 1955 Proof Set kick-started the series. (This 1955 Melbourne Mint Proof Set has attracted our BONUS OFFER of a free 1963 Melbourne Mint Proof Set. See below in the Read More section.)

We love this coin. And in fact, we were the under bidder when it was offered at a Sydney Auction several years ago, outgunned by a very determined and experienced Victorian collector. (The same vendor also owned the third finest known 1930 Penny that we sold last year for $150,000 so he has a great eye for quality.) The collector has been passionate about coins since he was a child. Now approaching retirement, he has consigned this prized gem to Coinworks for private sale. Our view on the coin today is exactly the same as it was a few years ago when we entered the auction room. It's just a really impressive 1930 Penny made even more impressive by our bonus offer of a Choice Uncirculated 1930 Melbourne Mint Sovereign.

The greatness and the historical significance of Australia’s proof coinage is exemplified in the Proof 1930 Penny. And this coin, the Proof 1921 Star Shilling. Both coins are numismatic greats and capture grand moments in time. And both coins are rare. Three examples of the Proof 1930 Penny are privately held. And only ONE of the Proof 1921 Star Shilling. This coin.

In 2018, proof gold emerged as one of the most fiercely contested areas of the rare coin market. Prices paid at auction for proof sovereigns and proof half sovereigns surged by about 20 per cent, the consequence of infrequent availability and an expanding market thirsting for top quality rarities. 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 1896 Proof Half Sovereign is a case in point. The coin is one of three examples recorded over the last half century.

This Proof 1888 Sovereign is one of two examples recorded over the last half century. The coin is as luxurious as it is rare. And the date 1888 is simply the icing on the cake. It’s the bonus that makes one of Australia’s grand gold coin rarities, even grander. (Technical shots are provided in READ MORE.)

The 1949 Proof Halfpenny struck at the Perth Mint is inordinately scarce. In a career that spans nearly half a century, this coin is the SECOND only example that we have sold. We looked to research conducted by John Sharples for a possible explanation as to its extreme rarity. And we got it. Sharples was National Editor of the Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia and Curator of Australia’s National Archive Collection and in 1995 published an article that examined the Perth Mint Proof Record Coins of 1940 to 1954. He examined the distribution of proofs by analysing the “out-book”, entries that correlated to the despatch of proof coins to local and overseas museums and institutions. Sharples could not find any evidence in the "out-book" of the distribution of the 1949 Proof Halfpenny. History now tells us that proofs were definitely struck. But perhaps the mintage was minuscule. The very reason why they are so rare in today’s marketplace. Technical shots are provided.