1930 Penny

The 1930 penny is the most famous Australian coin and one of the world's most valuable circulating copper coins. Its fame originates from the 1940s and 1950s where its rarity was first revealed to the general public, thus creating a surge in interest with the general public searching for this key rarity in their change. Consequently the average 1930 penny only circulated for 15-20 years leaving the average grade at around the Fine to VF level, slightly higher than pennies from surrounding years.

This interest has lasted on giving it the title of Australia's Glamor coin, and the

Key date

A difficult date to acquire in any grade, hence being the key to a series

 

key date to every penny collector's set. Consequently, despite a relatively high estimated

Mintage

The number of coins struck of a particular designation

 

mintage of 2000-3000 pieces, the 1930 penny commands prices similar to much rarer coins such as

Pre-decimal

Denominations without base 10 equivalents

 

pre-decimal

Proof

A coin struck from specially prepared dies to strike a superior quality coin not intended for circulation

 

proofs.

In 1930, with the economy slowing to a halt, the treasury did not request any pennies to be struck, as with denominations from threepence to florin, there simply wasn't any need for additional currency with the great depression in full force. Despite this, a small number of 1930 penny

Die

A cylindrical punch with an inverted impression of a coin's design used to strike the coin

 

dies were prepared (Coin Web, 2007) and it is suggested that visiting dignitaries were permitted to purchase fresh pennies, dated 1930 from the

Mint

a facility that produces coins

 

mint (Coin Web, 2007). This would seem to contradict the minimal number of upper grade examples of the date, with no known examples in

Mint state

A state of a coin that shows no signs of circulation

 

mint state. It is more likely that the coins were struck to test the

Die

A cylindrical punch with an inverted impression of a coin's design used to strike the coin

 

dies as suggested by Andrew Crellin (Sterling & Currency, 2008).

The coin itself is fairly scarce in lower grades with about 1500 pieces in the market today, above XF the coin becomes very rare and is almost unheard of in AU grades. The coin usually features a

Central strike weakness

A weak strike around the centre of the design caused by a lack of concavity in the dies relative to strike pressure.

 

central strike weakness on the

Reverse

The tails side of the coin

 

reverse and is paired with an Indian

Obverse

The heads side of the coin

 

obverse

Die

A cylindrical punch with an inverted impression of a coin's design used to strike the coin

 

die.

At the end of 1930, the Melbourne

Mint

a facility that produces coins

 

mint also produced

Proof

A coin struck from specially prepared dies to strike a superior quality coin not intended for circulation

 

proof strikes for various museums and as

Proof of record

A proof or specimen strike intended to represent a circulation piece produced for mint records

 

proof of record pieces for the

Mint

a facility that produces coins

 

mint (Learn more about the 1930 Proof Penny).

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