An old Australian $1 paper note is usually worth its face value ($1), but can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars if it's in uncirculated (mint) condition, has early serial numbers, specific rare signature combinations (like Coombs/Randall), or features a star replacement (*) in the serial number. The value depends heavily on year, signatures (Coombs/Randall, Knight/Wheeler), condition, and serial number features like "radars" or "solids".
Most commercial banks will redeem old Australian banknotes at face value. A commercial bank may require some time to confirm that a banknote from a previous series is genuine or may need to send such banknotes to the Reserve Bank for confirmation.
These are some of the rarest and most valuable $1 bills that can fetch you a pretty penny (note that the values here are for bills in excellent condition): 1890 $1 Treasury Note: $1,000. 1928 $1 Bill: $1,000. 1923 $1 Bill: $1,000.
To tell the year of an Australian $1 note, check the first two digits of the serial number for polymer notes (e.g., '99' is 1999), but for older paper notes, you need to identify the signatures on the front, as they changed over time, or look for text like "Commonwealth of Australia" (pre-1974) or "Australia" (post-1974).
Australian $1 notes were issued from 1966 right up until they were replaced by coins in 1984. Some notes can be particularly valuable if they have the right serial numbers or if they're in mint condition. The rarest $1 notes can sell for up to $7,500 each.
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.
While rare serial numbers often generate interest, banknotes will only ever be worth their face value to us.
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.
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★).
For example, an Almost Uncirculated 1973 one-dollar note with the right serial number could be worth $250. You may want to store your bills in some sort of plastic sleeve or binder to prevent further damage that could affect their value.
Max Stern & Co. offers a free valuation for your collection(unless a written evaluation is needed). Competitive prices offered for: Pre Decimal Australian Currency.
If you think you might have possession of a bill that's worth more than its face value, you can go online to look up the serial number. To test it out, we looked up the number on a random $5 bill at MyCurrencyCollection.com.
The Reserve Bank, and most commercial banks, will redeem old Australian banknotes at face value. If you take your old banknotes to a commercial bank they may exchange them for current banknotes.
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.
There may be debate about this puzzling coin, but what is certain is that there are no recorded instances of the 1992 Mob of Roos $1 being sighted in circulation. This $1 would be one of the rarest coins around, and would surely be worth thousands if it ever appeared on the market.
The Flowing Hair Dollar sold for $10 million at auction in 2013 to set a new world record for the highest price ever paid for a rare coin, CNN reported.
The rarest $1 notes can sell for up to $7,500 each.
Your old banknotes could be worth a lot of money. Send it to us using our free postage service. Our in house experts will let you know how much it is worth. Accept the offer to get paid the same day, or request to have your item returned to you at no cost.
Factors That Affect the Value of Paper Money
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.
Here are 10 rare coins, including five still in circulation, that are certain to increase in value in the next five years.