Valuable Australian 5 cent coins often involve low mintages, like the sought-after 1972 (key date, low mintage) and the commemorative 2016 (tiny mintage), but the real treasures are error coins, such as the rare 2007 double-headed or misstruck ones with die cracks or tilted collars, which can fetch thousands due to their uniqueness. Also look for variations in designer's initials (Stuart Devlin) and coins from 1985/1986 that weren't meant for general circulation but came in mint sets.
Australia 1966(L) 5 Cent Tilted Partial Collar Error. London minted 1966 5 cent tilted partial collar error. Collar has engaged with about two thirds of the coin and the beginnings of a lip are apparent on the obverse. Metal flow noted in AUSTRALIA 1966 where there was no collar engagement at all.
The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel is one of the most valuable nickels, with one of the five known specimens selling for over $3.7 million at auction. These nickels are so rare because only five were ever officially minted.
The five cent coin was first introduced with decimal currency on 14 February 1966. The original reverse design of the echidna on standard circulating coins has not been changed since the introduction.
Due to the low mintage, the 1972 five cent coin is very sought after (even in used condition) and can be worth over $100 in mint condition. Another scarce Australian five cent coin is the 2016 Decimal Currency commemorative - it has an easily-identifiable design on the tails side.
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.
There are a few nickels that could be worth $10,000 or more, depending on the condition, including the 1913 Liberty V, 1926-S Buffalo, 1880 Shield, 1913-D 3 (or 3-1/2)-Legged Buffalo, and 1943/2 P Jefferson. How rare is a 1943 nickel? 1943 nickels are fairly rare, but they are out there for collectors to find.
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.
Item NU 16480 Coin - 5 Cents, Australia, 1983
A cupro-nickel coin (19.4 mm diameter) featuring on the obverse a diademed bust of Elizabeth II facing right; around, ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1983. The reverse features an echidna (also known as a spiny ant-eater) seen from below as it rolls into a protective ball.
A normal base metal Crown may fetch £10 or more if particularly desirable. The gold and silver commemorative £5 coins will often be worth far more on metal value alone, and their more limited mintage figures may result in an even high price.
The 1885 V-Nickel is the coin that is most sought after by dealers as well as collectors. This coin is considered elusive and difficult to obtain. Even with considerable wear and tear, an 1885 V-Nickel may be worth nearly $400.
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.
One of Australia's most famous error coins, the 2000 $1 Mule, resulted from an incorrect die pairing during minting. This coin was struck using the obverse (heads) die of a 10-cent coin instead of the correct $1 die. The mistake created a distinct double rim around the edge, making it highly desirable among collectors.
A coin collector just paid nearly $2 million for an old dime. But not just any dime. The 1894-S Barber is one of the rarest in the world. That's why it was auctioned for $1,997,500 in Tampa on Thursday.
Some of the more notable – and valuable – 5c Error types are the 1966 5c Upset Die, 2007 5c Double Portrait (worth a $1,000 or more depending on the grade) and the brilliant 2016 Decimal Currency 50th Anniversary 5c Alien Variety.
10 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels
' An auction house specializing in currency announced it recently purchased a rare nickel coin for millions of dollars. The coin, called the Walton 1913 Liberty Head nickel, was sold to GreatCollections for a whopping $4.2 million dollars, according to a press release put out Sunday by the auction house.
The Royal Mint price today for a crownsized silver coin in Proof is £82.50. We can offer you Proof Sterling Silver examples of the 1977 Silver Jubilee Crown for just £49.50 or add the official Royal Mint case for just £5 extra.
During the minting process of the 2016 Changeover five cent coins, one pair obverse and reverse dies tried to strike a coin when no coin blank was present. This resulted in the two dies hitting each other (or "clashing") with the reverse die actually imprinting some of it's design on the obverse die.
Decimal Coins with Errors and Low Mintage
The rarity of the Proof 1936 Penny.
It was struck to proof quality, to put on record the date '1936', satisfying the needs of the mint rather than the wants of collectors. Coins of Record out of this era are amazingly scarce. Up until its offering in 2002 only three other proof pennies dated 1936 had been sighted.
A 1794 silver dollar sold for $10 million in 2013. Now the 'Flowing Hair' coin is up for auction again.