The famed 1981 Scalloped 20c "accidently" struck
on a Hong Kong $2 Planchet in Llantrisant, Wales. Courtesy of Peter Andrews: outstanding mate.......the punters thank you
for the view....
Australian rare coins are usually thought of as coming from the Pre-Decimal
era. However there are several modern decimal varieties that are now considered scarce or rare in UNC condition.
Rare Australian Decimal coins come in all shapes and sizes! Error coins &
varieties are always in demand by Investors and Collectors. We currently have an opportunity to acquire
rare decimal coins "before the rush" of general collectors. The forecast for gains is excellent amongst those
in the know. 1966 was a long time ago now, our Australian Decimal Coins have matured and are now well worth your
consideration.
The 1966 Wavy Baseline 20c Coin
Many thanks to Andrew Crellin of Sterling Currency.
The 1966 Wavy Baseline 20c is most likely our best known rare decimal
Australian coin. The 20c Wavy is an absolute essential in a serious decimal coin collection. Production
of 20c coins in 1966 occurred in Canberra at the Royal Australian Mint and in London at the Royal Mint. 28,196,000
coins were produced in Canberra and 30,000,000 in London. One of the dies that was used in London was
slightly different to the rest. It produced a baseline at the bottom of the 2 on the Reverse that is curvy, and
is paralleled in the swirl of water directly above it. This die has been researched and is only
said to have produced a very small number of the Wavy Baseline 20c coins. It is popular belief that the
die was repaired using a mini grinder before production leaving the wavy characteristic.
The Pic clearly shows the Wavy 2 & Swirl.
Thanks: www.sterlingcurrency.com.au
The 1966 Wavy Baseline 20c is worth $100 in poor condition and has been given
catalog values as high as $4000 for an uncirculated coin. It is said that there are many forgeries of
this coin circulating. Word is the crooks take a regular 1966 London 20c and apply some sort of heat treatment to "bend"
the metal.
How many are left circulating?
Only Purchase from a reputable ANDA dealer!
Still available in pocket change! Rare Australian decimals are 'noodled'
from Banks with prospectors known to bring home thousands of dollars worth of 20c coins in their search for the elusive 1966
Wavy!
2000 Millennium Incused 50c.
The Scan clearly shows the sunken area in the Union Jack.
The Year 2000 Millennium Incused 50c Coin. Two different Reverse
die types were used for the minting of approximately 16,630000 of the "Millennium Flag" 50c coins.
One Die type accounts for only 1 to 2% (200,000 coins) of those minted and these rare coins are easily distinguished
by an "Incused" Union Jack on the Australian Flag. Incused designs are recessed into the surface
of the coin as opposed to being the usual flat or raised patterns. If you look at the cross that forms the Union
Jack on a regular Millennium 50c coin it appears raised (flat) and level with the other design features. On an Incused 50c
the cross will appear to have been stamped or sunken into the coins surface. Also the star below the
Union Jack is bigger than on the regular die types. These coins are extremely hard to find in change and most examples will
currently be found in Fine or Very Fine. An Uncirculated Incused coin would easily fetch over $300 at
most auctions. MAY 2011 - UNC sells for $380 online - seller says retrieved
from mint bag - very, very nice coin, and got to be good news for decimal investors at this new price precedent. Hold if you
have UNC, riches will follow! Uncirculated / aUNC 50c Incused coins are
extremely undervalued in current coin guides. Very few have surfaced in top condition and it's popularity
continues to grow amongst collectors.
A Beautiful example of the Incused Variety.
This coin is in good Extra Fine.
So out of the 200,000 minted how many do you think have been found? How many
of those found would have been in UNC condition? Very few indeed! Make no mistakes the Millennium Incused
50c in top condition is well worth your Investment. Collectors can easily find lesser examples on online auction
and usually will need to outlay between $30 and $60 dollars for a coin in average condition (nVF). This
coin can be still found in your change ...so have a look!
Here's another rare decimal coin that has a low mintage and is worth keeping
in good condition. In 2004 the RAM switched to updated minting methods during production of 20c and 50c coins. 400,000 "Large
Head" 20c coins were minted before the new technology was introduced to produce a further 71,609,000 that had a smaller effigy
of the queen! The rare Large Head coins are easily distinguished by looking at the A in Australia on the obverse - it
will have a pointy top. The regular small heads have a flat top on the A. The font in the 00 of 2004 is also different. You
can easily find a circulated example of the "Large Head - Pointed A" coins online for a few dollars, but try finding
one in your change, they are extremely hard to find. If you happened to come across one now it would most likely show signs
of heavy circulation such as the example in the picture. You can see an UNC example of the coin on the dollarmule video at
the bottom of the page. They are great buying in UNC, with specimens still at low prices they are sure to rise in value.
Note the gap between the swirl and the Platypus' head.
A recent discovery is the 2008 20c Gap. This coin seems to be relatively
scarce and very few UNC examples have surfaced at online auctions. If you have it in UNC condition - definitely
HOLD. The coin has a similar cousin in the regular 1966 20c coins that were minted in Canberra, they both
have a gap between the ripple of water and the head / upper bill of the Platypus. However the 1966 example was intentional!
The normal 2008 20 c coins have no gap and the ripple intersects the head like a freight train. They are well worth keeping if you find a nice one, those left in circulation are now years old
and will have wear.
Dollarmule makes a discovery! Look
out for 2007 50c coins with results from a Die error on the lower Reverse. This one sat on the Dollarmule car
dash until it was noodled in April 2010. Many thanks to Fred Lever for his help in identifying the cause, he will
outline this error in his new 2011 publication. The numerals 5&0, animal legs and lower shield are astonishingly
BAD with massive cuds. This coin was placed on eBay and sold for a good premium to a wise source. Here's
a great close-up - Oh yeah baby - the R.A.M at it's best! November 2010 update: Mr Mick Southwell of Tasmania contacted
us after finding two more 2007 examples of this 50c error. Most exciting is Mick's discovery of a 1999 50c also exhibiting
the same flaws!
Dollarmule Discovery.
April 2010.
There are many regular Australian Decimal Coins that were issued in very
low mintages for circulation and are becoming more difficult to obtain. Some examples of coins that already have significant
catalog value are:
1c - 1968, UNC about $25! 5c - 1972, UNC about $30 10c - 1972, UNC about $20 20c
- 1968, UNC about $90 50c - 1973, UNC about $55
Infact any early or low mintage decimal
coin in Choice Uncirculated condition is well worth your collection / investment. Have a look at this 20c coin from 1966,
minted in London at the same time the Wavy Baseline was produced. Notice the die cleaning striations, lustre & bloom
- beautiful rainbow colours. It's been graded by a professional and simply outshines most others so it is well worth
keeping for the future. Buy coins that are in the best condition you can afford because when it comes time to sell, quality
coins make profits.
Same coin - photo taken in natural light to highlight the coin's attributes.
When you are buying a coin online - analyse the light it has been taken in, does it show the "true" coin, or
are shadows or over-exposure hiding something?
Custom Search
Many decimal coins have low mintages
and are already considered "Scarce" in UNC.
