1930 Penny, with a full central diamond and eight pearls. One of the absolute finest.

Photo shown above. A close-up of the crown area of the Extremely Fine 1930 Penny offered here. Note the high points of a full central diamond, eight pearls - including the magic seventh and eight pearls - and a complete oval to the left of the central diamond. Notice also minimal wear to the ear and eyebrow and the unbroken band of the crown.

Background information on the 1930 Penny.

The 1930 Penny was issued during Australia’s Great Depression and as a low denomination coin became the workhorse of the nation.

Released into circulation into an environment of high unemployment, poverty, low profits and plunging incomes, a situation that meant every coin had to be used. And not stored away as a collectable.

And yet somehow this coin has miraculously been taken out of circulation and preserved very early on in its life.

As the photographs show the crown is complete with a full central diamond that leaps out and knocks you in the eye.

And the seventh and eighth pearl in the crown is clearly visible. The band of the crown is uninterrupted.

Notice the king’s eyebrow and ear: the high points that along with the crown sustain the first signs of wear during circulation.

Flip the coin over and take in the strength and formation of the upper and lower scrolls and the well-defined inner beading.

The legend, Commonwealth of Australia and the date ‘1930’ are prominent, almost three dimensional.

The edges are undamaged and we comment on the fields of this Extremely Fine 1930 Penny for they are glossy and smooth, the toning an even chocolate brown.

In terms of quality, we have only ever handled one higher than this coin, and that was several years ago.

Given that we have been involved in the Australian rare coin industry for forty-eight years plus, this is meaningful.

Photo shown above. Chosen as a point of comparison, the crown area of a Fine 1930 Penny, that being your average 1930 Penny and that most frequently sighted. The central diamond is almost obliterated. The oval to the left of the central diamond is partially obliterated. Six pearls only are visible. The seventh and eight pearl have been flattened. Notice also the wear to the ear and eyebrow.

The pie chart shown above, and in particular the grey area, clearly shows the extreme scarcity of a 1930 Penny at this quality level.

Explanation for tabs:
gVF - aUnc
Exceptional quality Good Very Fine to About Uncirculated.
aVF - VF
High quality About Very Fine to Very Fine.
good - gF
A well circulated Good to Good Fine and the quality level at which 1930 Pennies are frequently sighted and offered.