Recent Sales

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.

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 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.