Select Coins & Banknotes

Quality Australian pennies

This page lists our current stock of Australian pennies and penny varieties. Our Australian halfpennies and pre-decimal silver coins are listed on separate pages.

We are continually uploading images to this page. Please email us for any jpg images not already here.

Five types of Australian pennies were minted.

First type Australian penny 1911 - 1936

Specifications: Size 25.5mm. Weight 5.67grams. Plain edge.
Metal composition: 97% copper, 2.5% zinc and 0.5% tin.
Obverse: portrait of King George V by Sir Edgar Mackennal.
Reverse: ONE PENNY within a circle sculpted by W H J Blakemore

Year	Description	Grade	Price (A$)
1911	Much sought-after first date Australian penny, attractive lustre, mostly original red colour, but just starting to tone brownish red on the obverse (heads). No significant detracting flaws, strong eye appeal, almost Gem Unc but not quite. click here for image	Choice unc	995
1911	Almost full original lustre, but a soft red colour, with only the lightest toning. Slight flattening of the obverse rim is noticeable, but does not detract unduly from near Gem Unc condition again. click here for image	Choice unc	795
1911	Highly attractive, considerable original red colour on the reverse, but the obverse (heads) has toned an even deep brown. No significant detracting flaws, better than average strike. click here for image	Unc	495
1911	Most attractive, considerable original red colour both sides, mostly about the lettering. No significant detracting flaws, just the very lightest rubbing on thediamond and top pearls.	a unc	175
1912	Second date Australian penny, and thus very few kept in top condition. Highly attractive, mostly original red lustre both sides, but just starting to tone brownish red. No significant detracting flaws, strong eye appeal, almost Gem Unc but not quite. click here for image	Choice unc	1550
1912	Even dark toning, no significant flaws. click here for image	gEF	265
1913	Reverse has considerable original red lustre, with light toning in the centre and some darker patches through the word COMMONWEALTH. Obverse is red and brown with light field flecking. Eight clear pearls and strong centre diamond, medium strike, excellent rims. click here for image	Unc	975
1913	Traces of original red lustre both sides. click here for image	aUnc/Unc	595
1914	Considerable original red lustre both sides, eight clear pearls and strong centre diamond, medium strike, no flaws. click here for image	Unc	2250
1914	Reverse traces of red lustre, eight clear pearls and strong centre diamond, no flaws. click here for image	aUnc/Unc	1350
1918	Red and brown colour, much original red. Eight clear pearls and strong centre diamond, no significant rim or surface blemishes. click here for image	Unc	2325
1920 dot above	Circulated condition, but quite collectable	Average	12
1920 dot below	Circulated condition, but quite collectable	Average	12
1920 double dot	Circulated condition, but quite collectable	Average	45
1920	Set of three coins: dot above, dot below and double dot, circulated condition	Average	60
1922	Highly attractive even brown colour, eight clear pearls, well-defined centre diamond, no obvious flaws.	EF	150
1923	Most attractive even brown colour, eight pearls, top two a little flat, well-defined centre diamond, some wear from limited circulation but no other obvious flaws.	aEF	75
1925	Second hardest penny to find after the elusive 1930. This item has an attractive even brown colour, six clear pearls, centre diamond defined, two very minor edge knocks, no other obvious flaws. click here for image	goodVF	495
1925	Another, attractive even brown colour, significant wear but clear fields and good rims. Highly collectable.	good Fine	275
1927	Attractive lustre, mostly original dark red colour. Strong eye appeal, almost Gem Unc but not quite. click here for image	Choice unc	975
1928	Broken 8 variety. Full original red mint lustre, near perfect surfaces, well struck, full eight pearls and centre diamond. click here for image	Choice unc	2450
1931	Standard date. Circulated condition, but quite collectable. click here for image	Average	10
1931 dropped I	Scarce. Interesting variety. Well circulated condition, but 6 clear pearls and no other detracting flaws. click here for image	Average	45
1932	Mostly full original red colour, near perfect rims and fields, well struck, full eight pearls and centre diamond, reverse particularly brilliant. click here for image	Gem	1550
1932	Circulated, with some wear to top two pearls, but clear centre diamond and no significant flaws. click here for image	goodVF	20
1933	Significant original red lustre, but some minor field marks	aUnc/Unc	145
1934	Strong strike, flawless rims and surfaces, lustrous red and brown. Eight clear pearls and strong centre diamond. Almost Choice unc. click here for image	Unc	295
1934	dark toning, no significant flaws	EF	70
1935	Lustrous, deep red-brown colour with underlying bluish lustre, well struck, clear surfaces and rims. click here for image	Choice unc	675
1935	Significant original red lustre both sides, mostly confined to underlying the lettering. Eight clear pearls and strong centre diamond, medium strike, excellent rims. click here for image	Unc	285
1936	Both sides brilliant as struck. Eight clear pearls and strong centre diamond, no significant rim or surface blemishes. Faint reverse toning and slight contrast in obverse colour do not detract. One of the finest we have seen. click here for image	Gem	850
1936	Recently sourced from a collector in England. Slightly streaky planchet, as is common, but flawless surfaces and perfect rims. This coin is unusually sharply struck, with lots of that elusive 'eye appeal' required for a strict Gem grading. Colour is a most attractive original orange-red with minimal soft toning. click here for image	Choice unc	695

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Second type Australian penny 1938 - 1948

Specifications and composition unchanged.
Obverse: portrait of King George VI by Thomas H Paget.
Reverse: sculpture of Australian kangaroo by George Kruger Gray.

1938	Almost full original red lustre, as struck, flawless surfaces and rims, highly attractive. click here for image	Gem	525
1938	Full original lustre, as struck, obverse particularly bright orange-red, lightest handling marks only; minor reverse flan flaw does not detract; most attractive. click here for image	Choice unc	375
1938	Clear surfaces, well struck, minimal handling marks, even red-brown toning	Unc	275
1938	Dark biscuit red colour, clear surfaces, well struck	aUnc	155
1938	Clear surfaces, well struck, light handling marks, even red-brown toning	EF	95
1939	Superb full original golden red lustre, clear surfaces and rims, one of the best we have ever seen. click here for image	Gem	475
1939	Full original golden red lustre, just light toning mostly on the obverse; strong strike, clear surfaces and rims. Highly attractive. Close to gem, but slight dullness detracts marginally. click here for image	Choice unc	395
1939	Deep red colour, underlying original lustre, well struck, minimal handling marks	Choice unc	225
1939	Deep red colour, lustrous, well struck, light handling marks only	EF/aUnc	85
1940 Melb	Fully lustrous, virtually flawless surfaces, well struck, perfect rims. Obverse has full original golden toning, reverse has some original gold with much red-brown toning. click here for image	Choice unc	425
1940 Melb	Lustrous, red-brown, minor obverse flan flaws, otherwise only microscopic handling marks.	aUnc/Unc	115
1940 K.G	Dark toning, original red lustre underlying obverse lettering, some darker panchet streaks as is common, but no other significant flaws. click here for image	Unc	950
1940 K.G	Toned brown colour, no significant flaws or wear anywhere, most attractive. click here for image	aUnc	395
1941 Perth	Brown colour, well struck, minor handling marks mostly confined to the obverse	aUnc	65
1941 K.G	Original colour on dark and slightly streaky planchet, unusually bright red lustre, especially on the obverse, medium strike, flawless surfaces, very rare as such. One of the nicest we have ever seen. click here for image	Gem	1650
1941 K.G	Full red-brown original lustre, soft strike but flawless surfaces, rare as such. click here for image	Choice unc	950
1941 K.G	Full original red-brown lustre, but just the lightest obverse toning patches	Unc	655
1941 K.G	Full red even colour both sides, but just the lightest rubbing on the high points	aUnc/Unc	325
1941 K.G	Toned brown, light rubbing on the high points, otherwise good rims and surfaces	EF	95
1942 Perth	Full golden red original lustre, soft strike as usual; surface blemishes visible as always, but minimal; most attractive. click here for image	Choice unc	275
1942 Perth	Original colour on dark planchet, unusually bright red, medium strike, one small obverse toning patch only, otherwise Choice unc	Unc	140
1942 Perth	Original lustre, obverse flawless but light marks and one small metal flaw on reverse, still highly attractive	aUnc	75
1942 India	Very light toning only, no flaws. click here for image	Choice unc	285
1942 India	Toned, but considerable underlying red colour, no surface blemishes	Unc	195
1942 India	Toned, but considerable original red colour, minor handling marks only	aUnc	95
1943 Melb	Full original colour, unusually bright red, flawless rims and surfaces. click here for image	Gem	325
1943 Melb	Lustrous deep red, flawless rims and surfaces	Choice unc	265
1943 Melb	Original red colour, microscopic surface marks	Unc	145
1943 Melb	Dark red colour, minimal surface marks	gEF	85
1943 Perth	Full original rainbow red colour, almost flawless rims and surfaces; detracting marks are minimal; almost gem. click here for image	Choice unc	295
1943 Perth	Full original deep red colour, almost flawless rims and surfaces; minimal detracting marks. click here for image	Choice unc	265
1943 Perth	Original biscuit red colour, subdued lustre, flawless rims and surfaces	Unc	185
1943 Perth	Almost full red as struck, visible die crack	aUnc/Unc	135
1943 India	Virtually full red, just the lightest hint of toning	Choice unc	185
1944 Melb	Full original lustre, unusually bright red colour, flawless rims and surfaces, and just the lightest planchet streaking and darker toning. Extremely rare this good. One of the finest we have seen. click here for image	Gem	1550
1944 Melb	Full original dark red colour, almost flawless rims and surfaces, lightest planchet streaking, but unusually even colour. Perilously close to Gem. click here for image	Choice unc	1150
1944 Melb	Full original dark red colour, lightest planchet streaking, no significant wear, but a few light dings from rough handling at the mint or soon after minting. Close to choice uncirculated, but not quite. click here for image	Unc	350
1944 Melb	Attractive subdued lustre, light wear evident. Rare	aUnc	245
1944 Perth	Full original rainbow red colour, as struck, medium strike, strong eye appeal. Almost gem. click here for image	Choice unc	225
1944 Perth	Full red, as struck, no flaws but soft strike	Choice unc	175
1944 Perth	Most attractive, full original colour, relatively strong strike, light obverse field bag mark does not detract	Choice unc	175
1944 Perth	Original biscuit red colour, subdued lustre, flawless rims and surfaces, soft strike	Unc	95
1944 Perth	Dark red colour, minimal surface marks, soft strike	gEF/aUnc	55
1945 Perth	Deep chocolate brown colour as usual for Perth mint coins, full original burnt copper lustre, soft strike only, excellent surfaces and rims, no significant blemishes. click here for image	Choice unc	225
1945	Attractive subdued lustre, light handling marks only	aUnc	85
1946	Well struck, even brown colour. Faint vestiges of original red lustre (not visible in scan). click here for image	good VF	225
1946	Well struck, even brown colour, no significant flaws.	VF	165
1946	Circulated, but well struck, excellent rims, even brown colour. No significant flaws. click here for image	good fine	125
1946	Some wear, but well struck, even brown colour. No significant flaws.	Fine	75
1947 Melb	Full deep red original colour, superb. click here for image	Choice unc	295
1947 Melb	Attractive subdued lustre, no significant handling marks	Choice unc	185
1947 Perth	Full original bright red, very fine reverse die crack through roo's tail does not detract. Exceptionally even colour, clear planchet and relatively strong strike. As such one of the finest we have seen. Very rare. click here for image	Gem	2150
1947 Perth	Full original red colour, soft strike as usual, only very minimal mint handling marks. Very rare	Choice unc	950
1947 Perth	Mostly brown but traces of original red under the lettering	gEF	135
1947 Perth	Even brown toning, no flaws at all. Rare	EF	65
1947 Perth	Circulated, but even brown toning, no major flaws. click here for image	good VF	25
1948 Melb	Full red, superb. click here for image	Gem	85
1948 Melb	Mostly full red, just lightest toning	Choice unc	35
1948 Melb	Full red, minimal handling marks, highly attractive	gEF/aUnc	15
1948 Perth	Almost as struck, with full original lustre. Brownish red colour, slightly darker than usual. Small planchet flaw does not detract unduly. Medium strike. Clear surfaces. Very rare. click here for image	Choice unc	1475
1948 Perth	Mostly original biscuit red-brown, with just the lightest toning. Medium strike, minimal microscopic surface marks and most attractive	aUnc / Unc	495

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Third type Australian penny 1949 - 1952

Specifications and composition unchanged.
Obverse: IND:IMP deleted from the inscription and the letters F:D expanded to FIDEI DEF.
Reverse: unchanged.

1949	Full red, superb. click here for image	Gem	135
1949	Mostly full red, just lightest toning	Choice unc	95
1949	Lustrous, red and brown	Unc	25
1950 Melb	Full original red colour, as struck. click here for image	Gem	95
1950 Melb	Mostly full red, just lightest toning	Choice unc	55
1950 Melb	Mainly red, minimal handling marks, highly attractive	gEF/aUnc	15
1950 Perth	Full original rainbow red colour, well struck, flawless rims and surfaces, small carbon spotting does not detract. Strong eye appeal. Colours are more attractive and vibrant in reality than in the scans. click here anyway for image	Gem	675
1950 Perth	Full original dark red lustre, unusually well struck, minimal spotting from the mint process does not detract.	Choice unc	395
1950 Perth	Brownish planchet colour as usual, but good strike and excellent surfaces and rims	Unc	195
1950 Perth	Mainly red, minimal handling marks, highly attractive	gEF/aUnc	95
1951 Melb	Full original red colour, as struck. click here for image	Gem	85
1951 Melb	Mostly full red, just lightest toning	Choice unc	55
1951 Melb	Mostly full red, light toning, minimal handling marks	aUnc/Unc	35
1951 Perth	Full original biscuit red colour, unusually free of bag marks, excellent rims, as struck. Only light spots of slightly darker discolouration and microscopic bag marks prevent Gem grading. Very hard to find better. click here for image	Choice unc	575
1951 Perth	Dark red colour, most bag marks confined to the obverse. Reverse nearly Unc	EF	225
1951 PL	Full original pinkish-orange colour, as struck, as good as they come. click here for image	Gem	95
1951 PL	Full original pinkish-orange colour, as struck, just the faintest appearance of scuffing due mainly to the inevitable die wear. click here for image	Choice unc	70
1951 PL	Mostly full red, just lightest toning	Unc	55
1952 Melb	Full original golden red colour, as struck. click here for image	Gem	95
1952 Melb	Virtually full red, just lightest toning, otherwise Gem	Unc	65
1952 Perth	Full original golden red colour, as struck, on unusually attractive rainbow planchet. Looks better in reality than in the scans which don't reveal the rainbow colours. click here for image anyway	Gem	125
1952 Perth	Full original lustre, as struck, darker red colour as is common for Perth minted coins. click here for image	Choice unc	95
1952 Perth	Mostly full red, just lightest toning	Unc	55
1952 Perth	Almost full red, light bag marks only. click here for image	aUnc	15

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Fourth type Australian penny 1953

Specifications and composition unchanged.
Obverse: Sculpture of Queen Elizabth II by Mary Gillick.
Reverse: unchanged.

1953 Melb	Mostly red, but some light even brownish toning, no significant surface blemishes	Unc	55
1953 Perth	Well struck, no surface blemishes at all, rainbow planchet, but toned a darker colour on the reverse, otherwise Gem. click here for image	Choice unc	125
1953 Perth	Full original lustre, as struck, darker red colour as usual for Perth minted coins	Choice unc	95
1953 Perth	Full original lustre, almost as struck, rainbow red and yellow colour, very light surface marks only.	Unc	55

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Fifth type Australian penny 1955 - 1964

Specifications and composition unchanged.
Obverse: inscription changed to include F:D.
Reverse: unchanged.

1955 Melb	Full original brilliant lustre, prooflike surfaces, toned a rich purple-red, almost Gem	Choice unc	95
1955 Melb	Mostly full red, just light toning	Unc	55
1956 Melb	Full original red colour, as struck, slightly streaked planchet.	Gem	115
1956 Melb	Full original flame red colour, brilliant lustre, just very light carbon spots and obverse toning patches, otherwise Gem	Choice unc	75
1956 Perth	Full original flame red colour, brilliant lustre, unusually well struck, just a few very light carbon spots as is common, otherwise Gem	Choice unc	65
1956 Perth	Mostly full red, light toning, minimal handling marks	aUnc/Unc	25
1957 Perth	Full original red colour, as struck, just one small reverse flan flaw, else Gem, quite hard to find	Choice unc	55
1957 Perth	Mostly full red, light toning, minimal handling marks	Unc	15
1958 Melb	Full original red colour, as struck	Gem	75
1958 Melb	Full original red colour, as struck, slightly streaked planchet, microscopic bagging marks, else Gem	Choice unc	55
1958 Melb	Mostly full red, light toning, minimal handling marks	Unc	15
1958 Perth	Full original rainbow red colour, as struck, slightly darker obverse	Choice unc	55
1958 Perth	Full original rainbow red colour, as struck, microscopic bagging marks	Unc	20
1959 Melb	Full original bright red colour, as struck, medium strike, one of the nicest we have seen	Gem	290
1959 Melb	Full original colour, soft strike	Choice unc	225
1959 Melb	Attractively toned	Unc	90
1959 Perth	Full original red colour, as struck	Gem	75
1959 Perth	Almost full original red colour, just the lightest toning	Choice unc	35
1960	Full original red colour, as struck	Gem	85
1960	Almost full original colour, just the lightest toning	Choice unc	45
1960	Almost full original colour, light toning, minor field flecks	Unc	25
1961	Full original red colour, as struck, ex mint roll	Gem	35
1961	Full colour, as struck, ex mint roll, five coins @ special price	Gem	125
1961	Almost full original colour, just the lightest toning	Unc	15
1962	Full original red colour, as struck, ex mint roll	Gem	15
1962	Full colour, as struck, ex mint roll, five coins @ special price	Gem	60
1962	Almost full original colour, just the lightest toning	Unc	6
1963	Full original red colour, as struck, ex mint roll	Gem	15
1963	Full colour, as struck, ex mint roll, five coins @ special price	Gem	60
1964 Melb	Full original red colour, as struck, ex mint roll	Gem	7
1964 Melb	Full colour, as struck, ex mint roll, five coins @ special price	Gem	30
1964 Perth	Full original red colour, as struck, ex mint roll	Gem	7
1964 Perth	Full colour, as struck, ex mint roll, five coins @ special price	Gem	30
1964 Perth	Full colour, as struck, with interesting die crack through the obverse star. click here for image	Gem	15

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Australian penny varieties and oddities

1922	Extensive die crack through reverse legend from C to F	gFine	18
1922	Die crack through reverse legend from P through inner circle then through EA to rim	aFine	12
1924	Filled 4 variety	Fine	15
1927	Die crack through obverse legend from VS through to D.G	aFine	12
1931 dropped I