Recent Sales

Original & Uncirculated. Two words that are music to a banknote collector's ears. ORIGINAL ... indicating that the note has been brilliantly preserved, crisp and vivid in colour. UNCIRCULATED ... indicating that it has never been used. These two words are particularly powerful when you consider that this banknote was issued more than eighty years ago - in 1939 - at the commencement of World War II. Over and above its superb original state, this Sheehan McFarlane Five Pounds is historically significant as the first Five Pounds of the George VI era. Furthermore, it is extremely rare for the note has the lowest recorded print run of the entire George VI era. At $8,500 it is affordable and a sensible piece to tuck away for the future either for yourself, for your children or your grandchildren.

If Australian collectors needed a reminder about the potency of the Perth Mint's gold coin rarities, they certainly got it at the recent Zurich auction. A Perth Mint Proof 1901 Sovereign fetched a dazzling record price, nearly double that of a comparable Melbourne Mint proof. The coin offered here, the 1918 Half Sovereign, is yet another of the Perth Mint's great coin rarities that commands respect and attracts solid interest. Particularly in the quality offered here. It is an important coin on many fronts. Australia struck its last half sovereign in 1918, this coin marking the end of an era. Enhancing its popularity further, it is extremely rare. Respected numismatic author, Greg McDonald, contends that only 200 to 300 pieces are available to collectors. In summary. This 1918 Half Sovereign is important. Premium quality at Uncirculated. A world-class rarity. A product of the Perth Mint. And available at $15,000. Excellent buying! The technical shots shown below re-affirm the quality of this stunning coin.

The collector that owns this Adelaide Pound, also owned the Holey Dollar that we sold this month. Sold in a flash, we might add. We described the Holey Dollar as ‘the coin that had it all’. And we would describe this Adelaide Pound using the exact same phrase. This coin has everything that a collector would want in an Adelaide Pound, including the price. Fabulous eye appeal, lustrous fields, minimal effects from circulation and a strong ‘Government Assay Office’ legend. And importantly, edge denticles that are intact all the way round. The latter two traits - the legend and the denticles - are rarely strong and complete in even the very best of examples. The 1852 Adelaide Pound is the nation's first gold coin. Acquire this example and you will be keen to show it off to your family and friends.

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 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.

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.