The most valuable Australian 5 cent coins are generally low-mintage years like 1972 (key date due to low production), error coins such as the 2007 double-headed/obverse coin, and commemorative issues like the 2016 Decimal Currency 50th Anniversary coin, with uncirculated examples of the 1972 worth hundreds, while the rare 2007 double-obverse can fetch thousands of dollars, according to Downies and The Australian Coin Collecting Blog.
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.
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.
The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, also known as the “Liberty Head V” or the “1913 V Nickel”, is considered one of the most valuable and famous coins in the world of numismatics. It was minted without authorization by the United States Mint.
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.
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.
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.
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.
' 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.
10 Most Valuable Jefferson Nickels
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.
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.
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.
Top 25 Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels
Jefferson Nickels started in 1938. Keys dates are 1939 D and S, 1942 D, 1950 D and now I think the 2009 P and D. Due to the recession, the 2009 Nickel stopped minting early in 2009, leaving around 40 million of each. Usually there are 500 million each produced a year, which makes finding most years readily available.
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 January 2026, a Jefferson Nickel from 1999 in circulated condition is worth between $0.10 and $0.20. However, on the open market 1999 P Nickels in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $45.
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.
Big Maple Leaf. The Big Maple Leaf (BML) is a $1 million (CAD) gold coin weighing 100 kilograms (220 lb) (3,215 troy ounces). A set of five of these coins was produced by the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) in 2007, at their Ottawa facility where the first BML produced remains in storage.
The rarest Australian $1 coin is arguably the 2000 $1/10c Mule Dollar, a famous error coin with a double rim due to using a 10-cent die, highly sought after by collectors, with values reaching thousands. Other extremely rare contenders include the disputed 1992 "Mob of Roos" with a reported 8,000 mintage but few sightings, and potentially the 1984 $1 on 10c blank (silver in color).