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This Proof 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign and Proof 1855 Sydney Mint Half Sovereign is the only pair available in Australia. Only one other pair is known, held overseas. The coins are an integral part of Australia's coining history. Treasures of the Sydney Mint, they were struck at the Royal Mint London prior to the opening of the Sydney Mint in 1855. Visually stunning with a provenance that can be traced back to 1903, the coins were held as part of the esteemed John G. Murdoch Collection. And these stunning ultra-rare 1855 Cameo Proofs are available now. Copies of the Catalogues attesting to their provenance will be provided.

The Spanish Silver Dollar was fabled as pirate plunder, the famous ‘piece of eight’ of the Spanish empire with a diameter of 39mm and weighing 27.70 grams of pure silver. The coin was used the world over for centuries. Used and abused for it was defaced by private individuals, banks and government authorities in the eighteenth and nineteenth century by being holed, cut into smaller pieces and counter stamped. This collection is comprised of four coins, all of which originated as a Spanish Silver Dollar. They are available individually or as a complete collection with a savings of $2000.

This Very Fine 1930 Penny is an elite coin. One of the very best it rests in the top ten per cent. It is a technically sound coin and visually very attractive. The ideal combination for the collector and the investor. To the naked eye, the coin has even chestnut toning and strong design detail, including the upper and lower scrolls and the all-important ‘1930’ date. But it’s under an eyeglass that this coin really shines and upholds its Very Fine status. The central diamond is complete and solid. And there are six very plump pearls. Now, it is a fact that the most frequently sighted 1930 Penny is a well circulated Fine. This coin, at Very Fine, is at least four grades higher. A 1930 Penny at this quality level would be offered on the market, perhaps once or twice every year. This is an impressive 1930 Penny made even more impressive with our bonus offer of a Choice Uncirculated 1930 Sovereign. The technical shots (in the READ MORE section) confirm its superior quality.

The name, Barrie Winsor, is legendary. And so is the collection he formed, the Quartermaster Collection. Winsor, had an eye for detail. He could spot a great coin 'a mile away'. And he had the experience and knowledge built up over fifty-plus years in the industry to make a relative assessment on each coin. Which coin was better. Which coin was, in his opinion, the best. And he used both his eye and his experience to assemble the Quartermaster Collection for Queensland collector, Tom Hadley. It took twenty years to complete the task! There is no greater endorsement of this 1864 Half Sovereign than it was acquired to become part of the Quartermaster Collection. The coin is highly lustrous, a cameo-perfect example with strong, unblemished edges that frame the coin. Given the limitations in size, the design is well-executed and the fields are super smooth. Quite amazing when you consider that the Half Sovereign was the lifeblood of the colony, manufactured for use in every-day commerce. Even more amazing that it survived the production process at the Sydney Mint unscathed where it would have hurtled down a chute and into a barrel. And this superb colonial gem is available now. The technical shots re-affirm its glorious state.

This Good Very Fine 1930 Penny is an elite coin. One of the very best it rests in the top five per cent. It is a technically sound coin and visually very attractive. The ideal combination for the collector and the investor. To the naked eye, the coin has solid edges, even chestnut toning and strong design detail, including the all important ‘1930’ date. But, it’s under an eye-glass that this coin really shines and upholds its Good Very Fine status. The central diamond is complete and solid. The oval to the left of the diamond also is complete and there are six very plump pearls with traces of the elusive seventh and eighth pearl. And the fields are smooth and show minimal signs of circulation. 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. Already have a 1930 Penny? Then consider trading it back as part-payment on this stunning coin. The technical photos of both obverse and reverse are provided below and re-affirm its fabulous state.

This 1813 Holey Dollar was created from a Spanish Silver Dollar that had been minted in 1800 at the Lima Mint, Peru. The coin has a distinctive edge. Most Holey Dollars were created from silver dollars produced at the Mexico Mint. This coin, however, was created from a Spanish Silver Dollar that was struck at the LIMA MINT. And that makes it one of the rarest Holey Dollars. One hundred and ninety-three Holey Dollars are held by private collectors and of those twenty were created from Lima Mint Silver Dollars. And this coin is one of the twenty. The ‘edge’ that this coin possesses extends well beyond a ‘rare mint’. The original silver dollar, a supreme quality Good Very Fine, resisted the force applied by William Henshall in cutting out the hole. The result is a Holey Dollar that has retained a circular, even shape and that displays the design details to the max giving it fabulous eye appeal. The coin also comes with a celebrated former owner. Syd Hagley was famous for his ownership of the Proof 1930 Penny and, history contends, created and drove the Australian rare coin industry. While the Syd Hagley Proof 1930 Penny may be an impossible dream for many collectors, the Hagley Holey Dollar is available now.

Name the top five all-time favourite Australian rare coins. Without doubt the 1930 Penny would be at the top of the list. But, the Proof 1927 Canberra Florin would, in all likelihood, be at position number two. For many collectors, it's not a matter of 'if' I will buy a Proof Canberra Florin, it's 'when' I will buy one. The coin is historically important and was struck to commemorate the opening of Parliament House in Canberra. And it is rare with numismatic authority Greg McDonald contending that the mintage could be as low as 150, an explanation as to why so few are appearing on the market. And this Proof 1927 Canberra Florin is superb, its glorious state prompted aggressive bidding when it first appeared at auction in 2005, setting a new price record. And price records only happen when the coin warrants it! A superb FDC with a highly detailed design set against a backdrop of smooth, brilliant fields enhanced by rich golden toning. And this record-breaking 1927 Proof Canberra Florin is available now.

The old saying, 'success breeds success' is very true when it comes to the 1930 Penny. Every year, demand for the coin is getting stronger as more collectors seek to acquire the nation's iconic coin rarity. The increased demand means that supplies are slowly drying up. And prices are steadily increasing. It's a trend we don't see abating, particularly with the '1930 - 2030’ Centenary just eight years away. This 1930 Penny was held by a Coinworks client and is very impressive. It is a classy coin. The edges are solid and the important design details such as the upper and lower scrolls, the inner beading that circles the value of ‘ONE PENNY’, the legend and the date ‘1930’ are all prominent. Flip the coin, over and the monarch's crown shows two sides of the central diamond and six plump pearls. Moreover, the toning is a consistent and a handsome chestnut brown, the fields glossy and highly reflective. The technical shots re-affirm the grading and the aesthetics of this quality 1930 Penny.

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

The shield design appeared on Australia's Sovereigns between 1871 and 1887 inclusive and featured Queen Victoria's Young Head portrait on the obverse. The series boasts three extremely rare dates, all struck at the Melbourne Mint - '1880', '1886' and '1887'. Of those, the year '1886' is the jewel of the series, a world-class rarity and definitely the one to own. Our offer of this coin is made even more remarkable because the highest quality ranking available to collectors of the Melbourne Mint's 1886 Shield Sovereign is Uncirculated. The strike is virtually faultless even to the kiss-curl in front of the ear. Simply miraculous!! Also verging on the miraculous, the coin's state of preservation. This sovereign must have been plucked off the production line soon after it was minted and has been well looked after in the interim. The fields are proof-like. The technical shots shown below confirm the fabulous strike.

We are not sure which excites us more. The coin. Or the asking price. This Proof 1925 Shilling is stunningly brilliant. It is the only known example held by a private collector. And is visually stunning. It's as though you are looking at a pool of molten silver, the obverse in particular is simply spectacular. Under the eye glass we note heavy striations on both obverse and reverse indicating that the dies have been well brushed to ensure precise design definition.

There has never been a better time to buy a Kookaburra Square Penny. The coin is a 'blue-chip' coin rarity. Yet in 2022, prices are a little subdued. This Uncirculated 1921 Kookaburra Penny is offered at $25,000. The price is indicative of a market that has simply forgotten just how extremely rare and important the coin is. We are not phased. It's a pattern that we have seen before amongst Australia's top coin rarities, including the iconic 1930 Penny. Yes, even Australia's favourite copper coin, the 1930 Penny, went through a quiet phase in the lead up to 2022. And it's now taken off and prices have accelerated! Shares, property and rare coins ... subdued prices present great buying opportunities. And at $25,000, this Kookaburra Square Penny is one such opportunity. It’s rare, the quality is fabulous and it’s a definite one-off. The technical shots below re-affirm its superb state.

The Spanish Silver Dollar was the coin that ruled the world. Fabled as pirate plunder, it was the famous ‘piece of eight’ of the Spanish empire and it was the coin that was used – and abused – by nations across the globe. In 1813, Governor Lachlan Macquarie holed and counter stamped the Spanish Silver Dollar to create Australia’s first coins, the Holey Dollar and Dump. And while Macquarie is lauded for his stroke of genius, the reality was the practice of cutting a hole in silver dollars and adapting them as local currency, had been done before, as early as 1760, by the British Colony of Dominica in the Caribbean. 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. Moreover the pair is affordable.

There has never been a better time to buy a Kookaburra Square Penny. The coin is a 'blue-chip' coin rarity. Yet in 2022, prices are a little subdued. This Choice Uncirculated 1919 Kookaburra Penny is offered at $35,000. The price is indicative of a market that has simply forgotten just how extremely rare and important the coin is. We are not phased. It's a pattern that we have seen before amongst Australia's top coin rarities, including the iconic 1930 Penny. Yes, even Australia's favourite copper coin, the 1930 Penny, went through a quiet phase in the lead up to 2022. And it's now taken off and prices have accelerated! Shares, property and rare coins ... subdued prices present great buying opportunities. And at $35,000, this Kookaburra Square Penny is one such opportunity. It’s rare, the quality is fabulous and it’s a definite one-off. The technical shots below re-affirm its superb state.

Every coin has a story to tell. Whose hands it has passed through. Where it has been. What commodities did it buy. This 1813 Dump could fill a book! It is a much used – and much loved – example of the nation’s first coin, the 1813 Dump. What is remarkable about this Dump is that, despite its obvious usage, it has not sustained any damage. Circulation has treated it very kindly. The fields are smooth and reflective, the coin has toned to a very handsome light-grey. It is just a really, really pleasant example of the nation’s very first coin and perhaps a great one to put away for children or grandchildren.

This 1852 Adelaide Pound has attracted the highest quality ranking of Gem Uncirculated and is the only example of the nation’s first coin to be so awarded. It is acknowledged industry-wide as the absolute finest. The strike is virtually faultless. Miraculous. At the same time the strike is confounding, that such precision could be achieved given the production problems that were occurring in Adelaide's Government Assay Office. Also verging on the miraculous, the coin's state of preservation. It must have been plucked off the production line as soon as it was minted and has been given extra-special care ever since.

One of the most gratifying aspects of owning a top-quality 1930 Penny is that its design attributes are clearly visible to the naked eye. You do not have to rely on an eye glass to take in its positives. And that's the case with this 1930 Penny. The coin has a complete central diamond and six pearls, strong upper and lower scrolls and well defined inner beading. The surfaces are smooth and highly reflective on both obverse and reverse. That classifies this coin as one of the best, putting it 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. Technical shots are provided.

Perfect edges and minimal marks in the fields. That's enough to make a 1930 Penny buyer pounce! This 1930 Penny has been part of the Coinworks stable of rarities for as long as we can recall. Formerly owned by a member of famous 60's Australian rock band, ‘The Groop’, we remember this coin as much for its ties to its legendary owner as to its fabulous quality. It’s one of the nicest 1930 Pennies we have sold. Acquire this 1930 Penny and you will be eager to show it to your family and friends. Even better, it’s such an impressive coin, you know you will get positive feedback. (And perhaps even a touch of envy.) You certainly won’t have to make excuses for the gouges or the rough and ready marks that are evident in most 1930 Pennies. Selecting a good-looking coin is our firm rule for buying 1930 Pennies, irrespective of the quality level. It's a principle that really counts when it comes time for you to realise on your investment and sell. The obverse of this 1930 Penny is graded Good Fine and has a partial central diamond and six plump pearls. The reverse is graded Very Fine and is particularly impressive with strong upper and lower scrolls, prominent ‘1930’ date and intact inner beading.

We like the superior quality of this 1813 Dump and the technical aspects that it presents. And we particularly like the price. At $45,000 you are acquiring a Dump that is in the top ten percent for quality. The fields are highly reflective and the design is sharp and strongly three-dimensional. Technically, it has the 'H’ for Henshall on the reverse, the mark left by the nation’s first mint master guaranteeing his fame. Evidence of the original Spanish Dollar design from which it was created. Intact edge milling. And the elusive ‘dot’ above the ‘3’ in 1813 that author Greg McDonald indicates is rarely ever seen. This is a fabulous example of the nation's first coin. And is available now.

This 1813 Holey Dollar was struck from a Spanish Silver Dollar that was minted in 1777 during the reign of King Charles III of Spain. Now, when it comes to Holey Dollars, Charles III is important. And extremely rare. Of the one hundred and ninety Holey Dollars held by private collectors, only twenty-two were created from silver dollars struck during the reign of Charles III. And this Charles III Holey Dollar is the finest of them all. In fact, we would go one step further and say that its quality state is nothing short of ‘miraculous’. ‘Miraculous’ simply because somehow, the silver dollar escaped the rigours of circulation for thirty-six years from the day it was struck in 1777 until 1813 when it finally came into the hands of the nation’s first mint master, William Henshall, who grabbed it from a barrel. And pounded a hole into it. Its state of preservation is extraordinary and inexplicable and the very reason why at its last auction appearance in Europe, the coin set a new price record. At Extremely Fine this is the finest Charles III Holey Dollar available to collectors. And with the original silver dollar minted in ‘1777’, it is the earliest Charles III Holey Dollar available to collectors.

This 1923 Halfpenny is fabulous. Fabulous, because the coin has great eye appeal, highly reflective fields, crisp design details and superb edges. But, it's under the eye glass that this coin truly shines. The collector that owns this 1923 Halfpenny, also owned the Holey Dollar and Adelaide Pound we sold late last year. Sold in a flash we add. He pursued Australia's classic coin rarities, the 1930 Penny, 1923 Halfpenny, Holey Dollar and Adelaide Pound, his priorities always that the coins had to be visually appealing. And they had to be technically correct. He waited a long time to acquire this coin and our research confirms the reason why. High quality 1923 Halfpennies are excruciatingly rare. This is the second only Uncirculated 1923 Halfpenny we have sold in our entire career. (Technical shots are provided in the READ MORE section and attest to its supreme state.)

Prime Minister Andrew Fisher fulfilled a promise to the nation when he introduced the Commonwealth of Australia’s first banknote in 1913. The note, a Ten Shillings with the signatories of James Collins and George Allen, enjoyed a grandiose release on 1 May 1913 at Melbourne's King’s Warehouse in front of Australia's political and social elite. The notes were printed in sheets of four and cut into single banknotes. Precisely at 3pm, under the supervision of Note Printer Thomas Harrison, a numbering ceremony began, each note individually numbered by hand in red ink. One hundred and two Presentation Notes were distributed by ballot to ensure a fair distribution, paid with the equivalent of a half sovereign. This Presentation Note is hand-numbered M000091 and was secured in the ballot by Jim Mathews, Federal Member for Melbourne Ports and is sold with his letter confirming success in the ballot. The pristine state of the note suggests that Mathews may have collected his prize (as distinct from being pinned to the letter and sent by mail to the recipient) for this Ten Shillings does not have pinholes. Nor has it been folded. Mathews also managed to secure the signature of the Prime Minister Andrew Fisher on the reverse. This Presentation Note and accompanying ballot letter is an investment in history and is available now.

This 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is impressive. In the flesh, the coin sparkles under the light. And the edges are fabulous. The surfaces are highly lustrous and there are minimal marks in the fields. Quite remarkable for a piece that was struck one hundred and sixty-seven years ago. And was denied any kid-gloves treatment during the manufacturing process. Impressive and extremely rare. We might see an 1855 Sovereign, at this quality level, once every year. The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign has always been one of our preferred coins. It's the nation’s first official gold currency minted at the Sydney Mint, the nation’s very first mint. Given its history, the coin will always be in demand, today and in the future. And it is the combination of quality, history and rarity that underpins this sovereign's value and its potential into the future for capital growth. And this stunning 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is available now, offered at $35,000. For collectors with an eye for detail, there is amazing strength in the crown and in the word 'AUSTRALIA'. The technical shots attest to the glorious state of this coin.

This Choice Uncirculated 1923 Halfpenny is spectacular. To the naked eye it has proof-like highly reflective fields that sparkle and there is underlying copper brilliance. But, it’s under an eye-glass that this coin really shines and upholds its Choice Uncirculated status. The design has been brilliantly executed during the minting process, the diamond is three-dimensional, so too the pearls and the gems in the crown. The tell-tale design elements of the band in the crown, moustache, eyebrow, ear, hair and robes … untouched. Finding a 1923 Halfpenny at the quality level of Choice Uncirculated is extremely challenging. Its the highest quality level you can find and only three are known. (Technical shots are provided in the READ MORE section.)

What better way to celebrate Australia Day than with an Aussie icon, the Proof 1927 Canberra Florin. Particularly with one that is as magnificent as this piece. You are in no doubt when you view this florin that it is indeed a specially struck PROOF 1927 Canberra Florin. A superb FDC with a highly detailed design set against a backdrop of smooth, brilliant fields. And if you think Parliament House looks impressive on the reverse, wait until you see the obverse. The design detail of George V is awesome and the silver fields, which occupy a greater area than the reverse, are like mirrors and blemish-free. They sparkle reflecting the light. It is simply stunning, and our photographer has captured the detail, the smoothness and the coin's brilliance. And if you are technically-minded then we confirm there is heavy striations on both obverse and reverse reflecting solid preparation of the dies producing a pristine strike. And the clincher … there are three solid, uninterrupted Parliamentary steps.