A 1970 Australian 50 cent coin, featuring Captain Cook, is generally worth only a few dollars in circulated condition, but can fetch higher prices (AU$3-$15+) in Uncirculated (UNC) or Specimen condition, with rarer errors or presentation cases reaching higher values, like AU$20-$80+ for specific sold items, depending on condition and demand. Most common circulated coins remain close to face value unless they have significant errors or are in top-tier condition.
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.
According to the NGC Price Guide, as of June 2024, a Kennedy Half Dollar from 1970 in circulated condition is worth between $4.30 and $4.80. However, on the open market 1970 D Half Dollars in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $12500.
Several U.S. coins from the 1970s can fetch you a lot of money on the collector's market, with the priciest ones valued in five figures. As with many collectible coins, the most valuable ones from the 1970s have some error or distinctive feature that sets them apart from the crowd.
The Most Valuable 1970 Quarter: The $35,000 Quarter
The most famous and expensive 1970 quarter is the 1970-S quarter struck on an 80% silver 1941 Canadian quarter. This unique coin has been appraised at a whopping $35,000!
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.
Kennedy half-dollar coins are not rare; most are worth only their face value of 50 cents. However, some are more valuable, depending on the year they were minted and their condition. For example, a Kennedy half-dollar coin minted in 1970 and in uncirculated condition is worth about $8.
The easiest way to identify a valuable half dollar is to check its date. This will tell you if the coin is made of silver. 1964 and Earlier: All half dollars minted in 1964 or before are 90% silver.
In the first year of production the coins were minted in 90% silver and 10% copper (90% silver). From 1965 through 1970, the coins were minted in a clad composition of mostly silver outer layers and a mostly copper inner layer (40% silver). After 1970, the coins are minted in a copper–nickel clad composition.
1966 Round 50-Cent Coin
Australia's only 80% silver decimal coin quickly vanished from circulation. The rising silver value made it worth more than its face value, placing it firmly on any list of rare Australian coins and value guides.
However, there are some coins that can increase their value thanks to the practice of coin-collecting. Such is the case of the 50-cent coins called “Walking Liberty.” These coins are among the most sought after by coin hunters thanks to their artistic design and the history they represent.
The Australian 2020 Firefighter $2 coin with the rare "bullseye error," where the flame design is mistakenly printed over the Queen's face instead of between the firefighters, can be worth up to $6,000 in mint condition, with an uncirculated example selling for nearly that amount. While other error coins exist, this specific minting mistake makes the Firefighter coin a highly sought-after treasure for collectors.
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.
Interesting 1971 50 cent with the obverse struck through foreign material (perhaps oil) resulting in an extremely poor strike. Most of the obverse lettering is completely missing.
Valuable half dollars are typically older silver coins (pre-1965), 40% silver Kennedy halves (1965-1970), specific key dates/mint marks (like low-mintage Walking Liberties or Capped Busts), error coins, or special proof/matte finish issues (like some San Francisco proofs from the 90s). The easiest rule is pre-1971 half dollars have silver content, making them worth more than face value, but look for rare dates in older series like Walking Liberty or Barber, or modern proofs for significant premiums.
Yes, many rare coins are worth over $1 million, with top examples like the 1933 Double Eagle (up to $18.9M), the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar (up to $10M), and the 1787 Brasher Doubloon (over $9M) holding records, often due to extreme scarcity, unique errors, or historical significance, including some novelty gold coins like the giant Canadian Maple Leaf and rare U.S. patterns.
Australian 1977 Silver Jubilee 50 Cent Coin.
AUSTRALIAN 1970 ELIZABETH II 50c Coin 'ERROR WORM STRIKE' - Captain James Cook.
Therefore, the 1970 quarter is quite common and can still be found in circulation today. You can purchase uncirculated examples of this quarter from your local coin dealer, or online, for a few dollars. The most expensive 1970-S Washington quarter ever sold was valued at only $110.
The Round 50-Cent Coin (1966)
Before our 50-cent coins became dodecagons (that's a fancy word for 12-sided), they were round and made out of, wait for it… 80% SILVER. Because of their silver content, these coins were quickly pulled from circulation, making them highly sought after.
Rare 1975 No “S” Proof Roosevelt Dime Exceeds $500,000 at Auction! Uncover the fascinating story of the 1975 No “S” Proof Roosevelt Dime, a rare error coin that recently achieved a record-breaking sale.
Thus, it is extremely necessary to authenticate a 1916 D definitively before you buy one. There are some other valuable Mercuries out there. Both the 1918 S and 1919 S are worth more than $100,000 in mint condition, and even the 1935 S can fetch $75,000 at auction.
Here are 10 U.S. dimes that may have some additional value due to their rarity or uniqueness.