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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.

The 1852 Adelaide Pound holds a very special in Australia's history as the nation's first gold coin. It was struck at the Government Office in Adelaide from 22 carat gold brought from the Victorian goldfields. Its status as our first gold coin ensures that it will always be sought after and underpins its investment value. Its investment value is also preserved by its rarity for the industry estimates 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 price range that is suitable to most collector's budgets.

A fascination with coins as a child, and a passion for colonial history as an adult, saw a Sydney resident pursue the Sydney Mint Sovereign series over a twenty year period. His focus was on quality, but in the case of rare date sovereigns (such as the 1855 and 1856) he held a number of examples. This superb 1856 Sydney Mint Sovereign is one such coin from his collection.

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.

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 Good Extremely Fine ’55 sovereign are genuinely scarce. More than 18 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.

This is simply a great 1930 Penny. Market watchers will note the almost full central diamond and the six very plump pearls. Market watchers will also take on board the price. It is our OCTOBER SPECIAL, offering a price advantage of $7500 over our normal R.R.P. This coin offers genuine value and for that very reason we really don't believe it will sit on the shelf for long. The vendor has held the coin for many, many years but is now eager to facilitate a quick sale. 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 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.

The Melbourne and Perth Proofs struck from 1955 to 1963 come high on our list of recommendations to clients. For themselves. For children. Or a nice little nest-egg to tuck away for grandchildren. So, when Melbourne journalist Anthony Black asked Coinworks to list ten-coin rarities that were priced below $5000 and, that we believed, were destined for growth. The Melbourne and Perth Mint Proofs were at the very top of our list. The sets are visually attractive and very affordable, appealing to a wide buying audience. Each is a stand-alone rarity, so they can be acquired progressively one year at a time with no pressure on buyers to complete the series.

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 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.

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.