Latest news and updates on Australian numismatic - Coins, banknotes, tokens
July 31, 2025
Shilling 1938 to 1952 - Price Guide and values
In 1938, the design changed for most denominations including the shilling. The U.S.A. mints at San Francisco came to the party, producing shillings between 1942 and 1944. These coins carry either the mintmark 'S'. In 1945, 1947 and 1949, no shilling was produced.
July 30, 2025
Decimal banknotes from 1995 to 2015 price guide and values
The $5 banknote received a mixed public response. Some people considered it too dull while others were disappointed at the loss of Caroline Chisholm, the only woman apart from the Monarch to have appeared on an Australian currency note. In April 1995, a more brightly coloured $5 banknote was issued to more clearly distinguish it from the $10 note. In celebration of the Centenary of Australia's Federation, the RBA issued a commemorative $5 banknote in January 2001.
July 28, 2025
Kookaburra Patterns - 1919 to 1921 - Penny and Half Penny
The Australian Government wanted to replace the circulating Half Penny and Penny in 1919. Trial square patterns, the Kookaburra, were minted by the Royal Mint in London and specimens in Royal Mint in Melbourne. Because there awkward shape and low weight revealing technical difficulties it was decided to not put them into circulation to replace the current bronze low denominations coins.
July 27, 2025
Shilling 1910 to 1936 - Price Guide and values
In 1910, the first distinctive Australian Commonwealth coins, struck at the Royal Mint in London, were introduced. It was a somewhat jinxed start for Australian currency. The range was incomplete as no pennies or halfpennies were struck. The first shipment, consisting exclusively of shillings, arrived on 1st March, 1910.
July 23, 2025
Decimal banknotes from 1967 to 1993 price guide and values
Sir Joseph Banks and a collage of unique Australian flora featured on the $5 banknote. The $5 banknote featured a woman, other than the Monarch, for the first time on Australia's currency notes. The portrait of Caroline Chisholm is set against a background of the women and children, sailing ships and Sydney foreshore of her time. Starting in 1992, the front of the note carries a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with a branch of a gum tree and the back of the note depicts Parliament House, Canberra.
July 22, 2025
6 Pence - 1953 to 1963 - Price Guide and values
Queen Elizabeth II first appeared in 1953 on our coinage following the death of her father in 1952. The rather engaging portrait of the young queen was designed by English sculptress, Mrs Mary Gillick, an ageing widow whose design was accepted as she celebrated her seventy-first birthday.
July 20, 2025
2 dollars 2025 - Rugby, Wallabies and Wallaroos
In the lead-up to two major events in international rugby — the British and Irish Lions Tour and the Women's Rugby World Cup — the Royal Australian Mint, in partnership with rebel, presented new coins celebrating the Wallabies and Wallaroos.
July 19, 2025
6 Pence 1938 to 1952 - Price Guide and values
The design was to change on each of the coins in 1938 - with one exception. It was retained for the sixpence and its fifty-three-year-old history only came to an end with the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. In 1947 and 1949, no sixpence was produced.
July 16, 2025
6 Pence 1910 to 1936 - Price Guide and values
The obverse of the 1910 issues depicts a crowned and robed bust of Edward VII facing right. In 1911, George was also portrayed crowned and robed although his more youthful looks faced left in the English tradition of alternating the facing direction of each subsequent monarch. In 1913, 1915 and from 1929 to 1933, no sixpence was produced.
July 14, 2025
Several tokens of Australia and New Zealand added
Due to a shortage of small coinage in Australia in the 19th century, several merchants ordered un-official tokens to facilitate trade.
July 14, 2025
2 dollars 1966 to 1988 banknotes - Price guide and values
Despite reduced attention to representing economic development, Australia's agricultural industries continued their reign as important features on our currency notes, with wool and wheat symbolised on the $2 banknote. 2 dollars John Macarthur (1767-1834) and the wool industry featured on the front of the $2 banknote.
July 12, 2025
Prince William and Catherine Middleton Royal Wedding Coins
The Royal Australian Mint, in keeping with the tradition of celebrating milestones of the Royal Family, released in 2010 an official royal engagement coins for Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton. The Royal Wedding Coin design, featuring a portrait of the couple,was released in the coming weeks leading up to the wedding.
July 12, 2025
3 pence - 1953 to 1964 - Price Guide and values
Queen Elizabeth II first appeared in 1953 on our coinage following the death of her father in 1952. The rather engaging portrait of the young queen was designed by English sculptress, Mrs Mary Gillick, an ageing widow whose design was accepted as she celebrated her seventy-first birthday. The legend was also revised.
July 8, 2025
3 pence 1937 to 1952 - Price Guide and values
The U.S.A. mints at Denver and San Francisco came to the party, churning out over £6 million worth of florins, shillings, sixpences and threepences between 1942 and 1944. These coins carry either the mintmark 'D' or 'S' respectively. In 1945 and 1946, no threepence was produced.
July 7, 2025
1 dollar 1966 to 1984 banknotes - Price guide and values
The front of Australia's new $1 banknote bore a portrait of the Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and a representation of the Australian Coat of Arms. The back of the banknote was distinctive with an interpretation of an Aboriginal bark painting by David Daymirringu and of other paintings and carvings.
July 6, 2025
3 pence 1910 to 1936 - Price Guide and values
The obverse of the 1910 issues depicts a crowned and robed bust of Edward VII facing right. In 1911, George was also portrayed crowned and robed although his more youthful looks faced left in the English tradition of alternating the facing direction of each subsequent monarch. Each coin was struck in what is known as .925 fine silver (925 parts silver with 75 parts copper).
July 3, 2025
30 Years of the Torres Strait Islander Flag
Designed by Royal Australian Mint coin designer Elyssa Waterford, the reverse shows the Torres Strait Islander flag displayed alongside the Australian flag to acknowledge the history and diverse cultures of Australia’s First Nation’s peoples.
June 30, 2025
Penny 1953 to 1964 - Price Guide and values
The Penny reverse design changed in 1938 and remained the same until the decimal currency adoption. The obverse now shows Queen Elizabeth II. In 1954, no penny was produced.
June 28, 2025
Ten dollar 1982 to 2025 - Specifications and melt values added
Uncirculated and proof decimal coins with denominations other than what is seen on circulating coins are produced most years by the Royal Australian Mint. Commemorative individual issues and sets with special designs are released in various alloy for collectors.
June 27, 2025
Penny 1937 to 1952 - Price Guide and values
Most of the reverses on Australian coins changed in 1938, except for the Half Penny and the sixpence. The Penny design changed for the roo reverse. Our old standby, India, came to the rescue with the Bombay branch of the Royal Mint striking both pennies and halpennies during 1942 and 1943.
June 25, 2025
10 pounds 1940 to 1966 banknotes - Price guide and values
It was four years after the death of King George V before the design on the front of the five pound note was modified. George VI's portrait replaced that of the George V and the watermark was changed to Captain James Cook. The death of King George VI belatedly led to the introduction of new designs for the ten pound note. Commander of the First Fleet and first Governor of New South Wales, Captain Arthur Phillip, features on the front of the new note and a theme of Industry and Science appears on the back, together with a woman modelled by Karina Nartiss.
June 24, 2025
Penny 1911 to 1936 - Price Guide and values
In 1910, the first distinctive Australian Commonwealth coins, struck at the Royal Mint in London, were introduced. It was a somewhat jinxed start for Australian currency. Only in 1911 was the introduction of halfpennies and pennies for the first time and a portrait of the new king - Edward's son, George V.
June 22, 2025
10 pounds 1913 to 1940 banknotes - Price guide and values
The first Commonwealth of Australia ten pound notes featured the wheat carters operating at Narwonah, New South Wales on the back. The next notes, designed and printed by Thomas S. Harrison, are longer and narrower than earlier issues. Later, there was an addition of a circle in the lower right displaying the watermark profile of the Prince of Wales (later to become famous as the King who abdicated - Edward VIII) and watermark TEN POUNDS behind each signature.
June 19, 2025
Half Penny 1953 to 1964 - Price Guide and values
The Half Penny reverse design changed in 1939 and remained the same until the decimal currency adoption. The obverse now shows Queen Elizabeth II. From 1956 to 1958, no half penny were produced.
June 18, 2025
Half Penny 1938 to 1952 - Price Guide and values
Most of the reverses on Australian coins changed in 1938, except for the Half Penny and the sixpence. The Half Penny design only changed in at the end of 1939 for the roo reverse. Our old standby, India, came to the rescue with the Bombay branch of the Royal Mint striking both pennies and halpennies during 1942 and 1943.
