? The proof 1923 half penny is one of Australia's most expensive copper coins, with the single example in private hands selling in early 2009 for half a million dollars . 1923 Half Penny. Available at: https://www.coinlink.com/News/world-coins/aussie-half-penny-sets-500000-record-and-1930-proof-penny-being-offered/ Glossary proof: A coin struck from specially prepared dies to strike a superior quality coin not intended for circulation ...
The 1885 Melbourne is the rarest date in the Young Head series, coming from a tiny mintage of 11,003. Marsh rates this coin as R5 , a strong indication of the coins' extreme rarity before the Reserve Bank of Australia released its gold holdings. A present day estimate would be closer to 200. The type turns up once or twice per year at auction in the lower grades and has historically demanded a premium over catalogue values. The date generally turns up in the VF to XF range and although it is ...
? The Chinese Zodiac is an astrological system that rotates through a twelve year lunar cycle. Each of these years is associated with an animal arranged in order from the rat through to the pig. An ancient folk story states that the order was established by a race between the animals that was orchestrated by the Jade Emperor of China. It is believed that each of these animals is associated with a set of characteristics that may serve as an astrological guide to understand the events that occur in ...
? King Edward VII ascended to the British throne in 1901 but it was not until 1902 that sovereigns were struck bearing his bust. Sovereigns were struck at all Australian branches of the Royal mint throughout his reign up until his death in 1910. Mintages throughout the period were generally high but a combination of the rough handling process at the mint and between banks, and the natural softness of gold, ensured that higher mint state examples have become virtually ...
? The Royal Visit Florin was struck in 1954 to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Australia in February 1954, the first time a British monarch had visited the country. The reverse features a lion representing Great Britain and a Kangaroo representing Australia with the legend 'AUSTRALIA FLORIN' and the date 1954. The obverse features the Mary Gillick effigy of Elizabeth II. Both the obverse and reverse design attracted much attention. The obverse legend features ...