Before decimal currency arrived in 1966, Australians spent pounds, shillings and pence made mostly from bronze and silver.
Many of those coins were produced in comparatively small batches, struck with multiple dies and mintmarks and often used hard in circulation.
That mix of low survival rates, key dates and quirky varieties is why some “ordinary” old coins can be worth serious money today.
Even in the decimal era, a handful of low mintage issues and genuine mint mistakes have become modern classics.
Below are 25 of the most valuable Australian coins you are likely to see discussed by collectors, excluding proof issues and excluding coins that are effectively pure precious metal bullion.
Values are rough retail estimates in Australian dollars, assuming genuine coins, based on typical market ranges as at late 2025 to early 2026. Condition matters massively.
The top 25 valuable Australian coins
1) 1813 Holey Dollar (NSW, Five Shillings)
- Why it is valuable: Australia’s first distinctive circulating coinage, made by counterstamping Spanish dollars with the centre removed
- Original mintage: about 39,910
- Estimated value: $100,000 to $250,000+ (even low grade can be very strong)
2) 1813 Dump (NSW, Fifteen Pence)
- Why it is valuable: The centre “plug” from the Holey Dollar conversion, Australia’s first coin struck locally
- Original mintage: about 39,910
- Estimated value: $15,000 to $80,000+ depending on type, clarity and grade
3) 1930 Penny (George V)
- Why it is valuable: The most famous Commonwealth rarity, with tiny survival and constant demand
- Estimated mintage: commonly quoted around 1,500
- Estimated value: $20,000 to $200,000+ (exceptional pieces can go higher)
4) 1922/21 Overdate Threepence (George V)
- Why it is valuable: The key silver circulation variety, created by altering a die and released in tiny numbers
- Estimated quantity: often cited around 900 known/produced (figures vary by source)
- Estimated value: $7,000 to $125,000+ (the jump in price from Fine to Uncirculated is brutal)
5) 1923 Halfpenny (George V)
- Why it is valuable: Widely regarded as the rarest circulating Australian halfpenny
- Estimated mintage: around 15,000
- Estimated value: $500 to $25,000+ (top grade examples are trophy coins)
6) 1920 Penny, “Dot Above Top Scroll” variety (George V)
- Why it is valuable: A major variety year with several dot types, this one is among the most valuable
- Total 1920 penny mintage (all varieties): about 9,041,000
- Estimated value: $250 to $13,500+ depending on grade and the exact die pairing
7) 1925 Penny (George V)
- Why it is valuable: A key date with a very small official mintage and strong collector demand
- Often cited mintage: about 117,000 (some references report different totals)
- Estimated value: $150 to $10,000+
8) 1946 Penny (George VI)
- Why it is valuable: One of the rarest post war pennies with a low mintage and many fakes around
- Mintage: about 363,000
- Estimated value: $50 to $2,500+
9) 1931 Penny, “Dropped 1” with Indian obverse (variety)
- Why it is valuable: A standout variety from the “trial and experiment” era for dies and hubs
- How rare: often described as scarcer than the 1930 penny in terms of availability for collectors
- Estimated value: $15,000+ is commonly quoted for problem free examples
10) 1934 to 1935 Melbourne Centenary Florin (commemorative)
- Why it is valuable: A stunning design, very low mintage for an issued circulation coin and a chunk were later melted
- Mintage: 75,000 struck with a meaningful portion not ultimately surviving as issued pieces
- Estimated value: $150 to $4,000+ (UNC examples command the premiums)
11) 1933 Shilling (George V)
- Why it is valuable: Key date of the shilling series, produced in very small numbers during the Depression
- Mintage: commonly cited around 200,000 to 220,000
- Estimated value: $200 to $5,000+
12) 1921 Star Shilling (Sydney mintmark)
- Why it is valuable: Classic key date with strong demand across all grades
- Mintage: about 522,000
- Estimated value: $80 to $7,500+
13) 1915 H Shilling (Heaton mintmark)
- Why it is valuable: A popular key date, often missing from collections because it is tougher than it looks
- Mintage: about 500,000
- Estimated value: $120 to $3,000+ depending on grade and surfaces
14) 1918 Sixpence (Melbourne mintmark)
- Why it is valuable: Key date in the sixpence run with comparatively low mintage
- Mintage: about 915,000
- Estimated value: $35 to $2,500+
15) 1938 Crown (George VI)
- Why it is valuable: Australia’s crown series is a collector favourite and 1938 is the scarce one
- Mintage: about 101,000 (commonly cited)
- Estimated value: $150 to $10,000+
16) 1937 Crown (George VI)
- Why it is valuable: Not rare overall, but high grade pieces and nice original surfaces carry strong premiums
- Mintage: about 1,008,000
- Estimated value: $80 to $2,000+ (mostly condition driven)
17) 1966 Round 50 Cent (80% silver)
- Why it is valuable: One year type, withdrawn because silver value exceeded face value, traded for bullion and collector demand
- Mintage: about 36.45 million
- Estimated value: $15 to $80+ (mostly moves with silver, premium for better examples and varieties)
18) 1966 20 Cent “Wavy Baseline” variety
- Why it is valuable: The famous decimal circulation variety, tiny number of genuine pieces known
- 1966 20c total mintage: very large overall, but only a minute fraction are the variety
- Estimated value: $100 to $10,000+ depending on grade and authenticity
19) 2000 $1 “Mule” (10c obverse with $1 reverse)
- Why it is valuable: The best known modern Australian mule error, still occasionally found but always in demand
- Estimated mintage: often estimated around 6,000 to 7,000
- Estimated value: $300 to $3,000+ depending on wear and eye appeal
20) 1978 50 Cent struck on a 20 Cent blank (mistrike)
- Why it is valuable: Denomination struck on the wrong planchet, extremely unusual to escape the Mint
- Mintage: unknown, likely tiny
- Estimated value: Up to around $1,500 (varies with strength of strike and condition)
21) 1994 10 Cent struck on a 5 Cent blank (mistrike)
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- Why it is valuable: Another wrong planchet error that is rare in the wild
- Mintage: unknown, likely tiny
- Estimated value: $700 to $1,500+
22) 2007 Double headed 5 Cent (error)
- Why it is valuable: A dramatic error that is visually obvious and highly collectable
- Mintage: unknown
- Estimated value: $2,000 to $10,000+ depending on confirmation and condition
23) 2000 $2 Aboriginal Elder (low mintage circulation issue)
- Why it is valuable: One of the early low mintage $2 years, popular series
- Mintage: about 5.6 million
- Estimated value: $10 to $60 (UNC commands the premium)
24) 2011 $2 Aboriginal Elder (very low mintage)
- Why it is valuable: A standout low mintage $2 that many collectors chase in UNC
- Mintage: about 1.8 million
- Estimated value: $10 to $50+
25) 1998 $2 Aboriginal Elder (another low mintage year)
- Why it is valuable: Low mintage relative to the series, strong demand from $2 specialists
- Mintage: about 8.7 million
- Estimated value: $8 to $35+
Quick sanity check before you get excited
If you think you have one of these, do three things before you spend money:
- Confirm weight, diameter and magnet behaviour match the real coin
- Compare to known diagnostics for the variety or error
- Assume the first answer is “fake or damaged” until proven otherwise, especially for 1930 pennies, 1922/21 threepences and wavy 20 cents
A single date, mintmark or subtle variety can turn an everyday piece into something genuinely special.
Learn the series, handle as many real examples as you can and remember that condition and authenticity matter just as much as rarity when it comes to long term value.
