Most Australian 1c coins are only worth face value (1 cent), as they were minted in huge numbers, but specific years, especially errors or uncirculated examples (like certain 1966 Canberra mint coins), can fetch from a few dollars to much more for rare, perfect condition pieces, making them fun for collectors but not a goldmine unless you find a rare variant.
A 1966 penny's value depends on its origin (US or Australia) and condition, with common circulated US Lincoln cents worth face value, but rare US error coins (like doubled dies) fetching hundreds or thousands, while circulated Australian pennies are generally low-value but uncirculated or error Australian coins can be worth significantly more, like $5-$25+.
Yes, 1c and 2c pieces are still Australian legal tender, but they are not considered as 'currency' (or, money that is officially released for circulation). This means that you can take your old 1c and 2c coins to the bank and exchange them for currency totalling the same face value.
The rare Australian coin that sells for around $60,000 (or more, depending on condition) is the 1930 Australian Penny, an accidentally minted coin from the Great Depression era with a very low mintage, making it a "numismatic superstar" sought by collectors for its rarity and historical significance. Its value comes from being the lowest mintage pre-decimal Australian coin, with only about 1,500 believed to exist in circulation, notes 9News.com.au and Network Ten.
An Australian 2000 $1 "Mule" coin, created by mistake using the smaller 10-cent coin's head (obverse) die, can be worth up to $3,000 due to its distinct double rim and off-center appearance, but its value depends heavily on its condition, with only a few thousand believed to exist.
Valuable Australian $1 coins often have minting errors, low mintages, or special privy marks, with the 2000 $1/10c Mule (with 10c die error) being the most famous (potentially thousands), followed by the 2001 Federation Rotation Error (up to $100), low-mintage 2015-2018 ANZAC issues, the 2019 A/U/S Privy Mark coins, and the 1992 Mob of Roos (rarely seen, potentially $2000+). Key features to look for are doubled rims, rotated designs, or tiny markings (privy marks) on the reverse, like the envelope on some 2019 coins.
One of the easiest ways to tell if a coin is rare is to check the date. If the coin is from before 1800, it's likely rare. Coins minted in the 19th century are also generally considered rare, with a few exceptions. Coins from the 20th century are less likely to be rare, but there are still some that meet the criteria.
Coins worth over $1 million are typically extremely rare historical U.S. gold and silver coins (like the 1933 Double Eagle or 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar) or modern ultra-rare novelties (like the 100kg Canadian Gold Maple Leaf) with few known examples, often due to minting errors, historical significance, or extreme scarcity, with sales reaching tens of millions.
So what is its value? It's difficult to put values on varieties such as this, but if we assume the coin photographed above is just as rare as a 1951 Perth halfpenny no dot in the same grade, a reasonable starting point would be over $750, which is the going rate of a 1951 Perth halfpenny no dot in comparable grade.
A 1964 Australian Penny is generally worth a small amount, around $1 to $5 for circulated coins, but its value increases significantly with condition, with uncirculated examples (especially those from Perth with rare varieties or errors) fetching from tens to thousands of dollars, depending on grade and features like red color (RD) or doubled dies, so condition and mint mark are key.
Most Australian one cent coins are still only worth 1 cent, so a complete set of Australian 1 cent coins running from 1966 to 1990 is fairly easy to complete in circulated condition.
The original £1 coin — nicknamed the “round pound” — was withdrawn from circulation in 2017 and replaced by the 12-sided bimetallic coin. Some of the final editions of the round pound, particularly those issued in 2016, are of interest to collectors. If you have any tucked away, they're worth keeping.
Canadians can redeem their pennies at their financial institution. Financial institutions may require that pennies be properly rolled.
While you may be tempted to polish your coins to make them look shiny and new, proceed with caution. Polishing and/or cleaning coins can reduce their value. Older coins that show deep age coloration are more desirable than coins whose surfaces have been stripped away by improper polishing or cleaning.
The 50-cent coin that can be worth around $15,000 is the rare 1988 Australian 50c error coin, mistakenly struck with the standard Coat of Arms instead of the commemorative First Fleet design, with only a couple known, though more might be found; it's a "mule" error from the Royal Australian Mint, making it extremely valuable to collectors.
The 1966 Round 50 Cent Coin, despite its short-lived circulation, left a lasting impact on Australian numismatics. It became a sought-after collector's item, valued for its silver content and historical significance. Today, these coins are prized by collectors and investors alike.
While many pennies have little value, specific rare pennies, especially error coins like the 1992 Close AM Lincoln Cent, the elusive 1930 Australian Penny, or certain 1982 Copper Pennies (like the 1982-D Small Date), can be worth $20,000 or more, depending heavily on their condition and specific error, with the Australian 1930 penny being a national icon worth tens of thousands in average condition.
A 1951 penny with no mint mark (Philadelphia) is typically worth $0.05 to $0.20 in circulated condition and up to $5 or more if uncirculated. The 1951-D (Denver) penny ranges from $0.10 to $0.50 in circulated grades and can exceed $6 in mint condition.
Ask most collectors - or most Australians for that matter - what is Australia's rarest penny and they will respond with the answer, 'the 1930 Penny'. The correct answer is however the 1945 Penny struck at the Melbourne Mint.
1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny — $2.3 million
However, a few were mistakenly made of bronze, and these are extremely rare and valuable. Made of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc alloy, it sold for $1.7 million in 2010 but is valued at $2.3 million in mint uncirculated condition.
What quarter is worth $2000 right now? The 1932-D Washington quarter had a relatively low mintage of 436,800 pieces, making it one of the rarest in the series. The value of this quarter in higher grades (uncirculated conditions) can significantly exceed $2,000.
The 1959-D wheat penny is one of the most controversial mule coins ever. It's worth $50,000! Here's everything you could possibly want to know about the 1959-D penny error!
A specific type of misprinted $1 bill from the 2013 Series, particularly in matching pairs, can be worth up to $150,000 to collectors, due to an error where millions were printed with duplicate serial numbers. To identify one, check for a "Series 2013" date near George Washington's photo, a "B" Federal Reserve seal, and a serial number ending in a star (★) within specific ranges (e.g., B00000001★ - B00250000★).
Rare Australian $1 coins often have manufacturing errors, low mintages, or unique commemorative designs, with top examples including the 2000 Mule (heavy rim), the 2001 Centenary of Federation (rotated die), low-mintage 2015-2018 ANZAC coins, or error coins like the 1984 struck on a 10c blank (silver), all potentially worth significantly more than face value due to scarcity and collector demand.
Dollars made of silver, be they traditional silver dollars minted up to the 1930's, 40% silver Eisenhower dollars, or American Silver Eagle bullion coins, should be saved or sold to collectors. The same is true for proof Susan B. Anthony and so-called proof “golden” dollars.