Unc 2008 Centenary of Rugby League One Dollar

Rugby Union champion of the time Dally Messenger signed to Rugby League in 1907 to play in the All Golds match in 1908. This was the catalyst for the beginning of this new code of football. The NSW Rugby Football League was founded displacing Rugby Union as the primary code of football.

Today there are over 400 players in the 16 clubs of the NRL (National Rugby League). Each year a premiership battle takes place over 30 weeks to determine the winning team, the other major competition in Australia is the State of Origin Series NSW vs QLD. Every couple of years or so a World Cup competition is held, these tournaments began in France in 1954. Australia has been the most successful World Cup winning team succeeding 9 times.

Rugby League is the dominant football code played in New South Wales and Queensland and is played professionally in over 50 countries worldwide.

This one dollar coin, released in 2008 by The Royal Australian Mint celebrates 100 years of Rugby League. The reverse designed by Vladimir Gottwald depicts the Cenetenary of Rugby League logo. The letter A as worn on the jerseys of players in the first decade of the code surrounded by 1908 2008 and the words Centenary of Rugby League in a ribbon banner. The obverse is the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

This uncirculated dollar is encapsulated in an informative card and was issued for collectors and not intended to circulate. It is, however, the standard aluminium bronze 25mm size weighing 9g with edge interrupted reeding. Issue price was $12.95 with a mintage of 35,282 coins. This coin was also released in a prestige stamp booklet , a joint Australia Post release with a mintage of 26,109.

Unc 2009 Bicentenary of Australia Post One Dollar

2009 celebrated 200 years of the Australian postal service delivering letters and parcels to their destinations Australia wide. Australia's first post master Isaac Nichols took charge of packages arriving by ship at Sydney wharves working from his home in Sydney to deliver the mail. It wasn't until the postal act of 1825 that the NSW Governor fixed postage prices appointing post masters outside Sydney allowing for a more organised postal service. Now, there are more than 16,000 post boxes on streets throughout Australia.

This 2009 uncirculated one dollar coin was only issued in a PNC by Australia Post and a two coin set by the Royal Australian Mint. The two coin set also features a proof $5 coin depicting Isaac Nichols' residence.

This $1 features the design of an early cast iron post box which have typically stood on town and city streets since 1856. The reverse states "One Dollar 200 years of postal services in Australia". It is a standard aluminium bronze coin 25mm in size weighing 9g with edge interrupted reeding. Issue price for the PNC was $14.95 and $119.95 in the two coin set in a display box. The obverse is the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

2009 Bicentenary of Australia Post PNC

Note: There is another issue by The Perth Mint of a PNC including a non-standard coloured legal tender one dollar coin.

Unc 2008 Centenary of Scouting One Dollar

February 2008 saw the launch of a new coin design entering circulation, the Centenary of Scouting $1. This coin marks 100 years of the Scouting movement. The Scouts form a sound basis for our youth in learning physical, mental and spiritual development as they grow into successful adults in our community. There are 28 million scouts in 160 countries wordwide participating in activites, having fun and learning to "be prepared", the Scouting motto.

This one dollar depicts the Australian spirit flame, the Australian Scout symbol sculpted by Caitlin Goodall. This symbol resembles the international Scouting symbol, the fleur-de-lis incorporating the southern cross. The reverse states "Centenary of Scouting 1908 2008 Scouts Australia 1 Dollar". The obverse depicts the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. This standard 25mm size, 9 gram aluminium bronze one dollar entered circulation in April 2008 along with a standard mob of roos 2008 issue later in the year. The Royal Australian Mint also released these dollars in exclusively wrapped Mint Roll paper for $29.95 per roll of 20 coins.

Unc 2008 Mary MacKillop One Dollar Inspirational Australians Series

In 2008 the Royal Australian Mint introduced a new series of collector one dollar coins dedicated to Inspirational Australians. This first coin issued recognises Mary MacKillop and her work in founding schools and educating Australian children whilst enduring poverty and hardships. A catholic Nun, Mary was born in 1842 and died in 1909. She is currently referred to as Blessed Mary MacKillop after being beatified by the Pope in 1995 for the miraculous cure of a dying woman. Just recently (December 2009) The Vatican has recognised a second miracle by Mary MacKillop who is expected to be given a sainthood in 2010.

This one dollar coin depicts Mary and 3 of her young students in front of a map of the world designed by RAM designer Vladimir Gottwald. The obverse is the standard Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. This uncirculated dollar is encapsulated in an informative card and was issued for collectors and not intended to circulate. It is however the standard aluminium bronze 25mm size weighing 9g with edge interrupted reeding. Issue price was $12.95 with a mintage of 29,802 coins.

2008 Uncirculated Mary MacKillop $1 in card of Issue

It's that time of year again when Greg McDonald sits back to enjoy a well earned rest after monumental effort in publishing his next edition of the Pocket Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes. This coin guide is released each year with updated issues and prices of pre-decimal, decimal, proclamation and early Australian coinage issues. It's the most up to date reference of issues right up to current Australian releases by the Royal Australian Mint and The Perth Mint.

Released this week, being distributed to dealers and good book shops as I write this, is the latest edition, the 17th. Most significantly this issue features full colour images of the various releases. Produced in soft cover retailing at $35 just a small price increase from last year this is an ideal reference guide to add to your numismatic book collection.

Unc 2007 Year of the Pig One Dollar -obverse left, reverse right

In 2007 the Royal Australian Mint launched a on going series of NCLT (non-circulating legal tender) one dollar coins depicting each Lunar year and their representative animals. Intended as a collectors coin this 2007 $1 marks the birth of a special little one or a birthday gift for others born in the Year of the Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995. A dominant trait of those born into the year of the pig is generosity so returning the favour with this coin as a gift was the marketing strategy for the RAM in 2007.

The Year of the Pig one dollar design by Vladimir Gottwald features a pig with authentic chinese symbols all in a symetrical design on the reverse. The coin was issued in a protective capsule housed in an informative card . This card features red and gold design, the traditional colours of good fortune in Chinese culture. The most unusual charcteristic of this issue is that it features "2007 Year of the Pig" on the reverse and states the denomination on the obverse. It is a standard 25mm size, 9 gram, aluminium bronze one dollar coin with the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The legends differ from the normal $1 obverse adding the denomination "1 Dollar" below the portrait.

This year of the Pig one dollar was issued in uncirculated condition for $12.95. It was also issued as a 11.66g silver proof striking for $40. The same design was also issued in a (1/10oz 17.53mm) $10 gold proof coin for $175.

Australia 2005 Genuine $2

Australia 2003 Counterfeit $2

These counterfeit two dollar coins surfaced in change a few years ago now, around mid 2005. Certainly a good dodgy coin which on passing the everyday Joe wouldn't look twice at. But those in the know can pick them a mile away, they are so obviously unauthorised counterfeit copies that it's laughable.

The most notable points are the crudeness of the designs. Her majesties hair and the Aboriginals beard just curl and brush the wrong way. The counterfeit versions have a weak strike, are missing important details altogether and just look plain wrong. On the obverse of the counterfeit coin notice the legends are slightly misaligned. The "EL" of Elizabeth extends too far down HM's neck. The coins themselves sound and feel different to genuine coins and are underweight.

It seems interesting that if anyone were going to make worthless copies of currency and pass it off an genuine then surely they would choose to do so with something larger, say, 50 or 100 dollar notes. If they chose to crudely copy our two dollar coin then for sure there will be many of them circulating unknowingly throughout the country to make it worthwhile for the offender.

If you find yourself picking out one of these illegal copies then it's best to hand it in to the authorities. It is illegal to pass these along, use them to purchase or trade them as currency.

1999 International Year of Older Persons One Dollar

Each year the United Nations General Assembly designates a theme to help draw attention to important issues worldwide. It was declared that 1999 would be the International Year for Older Persons. It is expected that by the year 2020 the aged population of the world will pass the 1 billion people mark.

By proclaiming this the year of older persons the UN hoped to increase awareness of our maturing population and help all generations work together and build stonger relationships through understanding. Working together we can learn, repect and grow society for all ages.

"Towards a society for all ages International Year of Older Persons Australia 1999 1 Dollar" is depicted in the legend on this one dollar issue. With 29, 208,000 released into circulation this standard size one dollar coin measures 25mm in diameter and weighs 9 grams and is struck in aluminium bronze. The image on the reverse is the United Nations symbol for the IYOP 1999 and was designed by Wojciech Pietranik. It consists of (flower-like) rotating concentric lines expressing vitality, diversity and interdependence, as well as movement and progression. This one dollar coin was also issued in a two coin unc set (mintage 33,922) with the other commemorative for 1999, the Anzac $1. In joint association with Australia Post 56,065 were also issued on Feb 1st 1999 in a PNC release.

Mint and proof year sets, baby mint and proof sets for 1999 all feature the IYOP dollar which has the obverse effigy of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley. All coins in these sets feature the same obverse by Broadley first used in 1999.

For an overview of 1999 $1 issues by the Royal Australian Mint see our 1999-2000 one dollar issues and mintage table.

2010 Burke and Wills One Dollar

The RAM is taking the opportunity in 2010 to reflect on the expedition of Australian explorers Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills 150 years ago. In 1860 the South Australian government offered a prize to whoever could traverse the continent from south to north first. Burke and Wills set out on a fateful journey to explore inland Australia from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland in August 1860. Along with 17 other men, 23 horses, 26 camels, 20 tonnes of supplies, 6 wagons and 80 pairs of shoes the party left Royal Park in Melbourne.

The trek proved to be a slow journey. Wagons broke down, they dumped sugar, belongings, rum, guns and other supplies that were weighing them down. Some men were left behind, some got sick and died. A group of four with one horse and three camels reached the Gulf of Carpentaria but failed to see the ocean because of mud and thick mangroves. On the return journey supplies were so short they killed and ate a camel and later Burke's horse. One of the party died. By 1861 the party were very sick and on July 1st Burke died of starvation. Wills died a few days later. King was the only survivor completing the trek by joining a group of Aboriginals and later being found by other explorers and returned home. They returned Burke and Wills' bodies to Melbourne for a public funeral. King was given a pension but his life was short lived due to ill health from the ordeal.

To mark the sesquicentenary in 2010 the Royal Australian Mint in partnership with the Royal Society of Victoria has released a commemorative one dollar coin to remember the journeys of our early explorers Burke and Wills. These have been released in a 2 coin set with a comemmorative 20c in proof and uncirculated finish. The dollar coin was designed by RAM designer Wojciech Pietranik and depicts explorer King, the weary sole survivor resting under the "Dig Tree" at Coopers Creek in southwest Queensland. It also shows camel tracks depicting their route south to north and footprints symbolic of the assistance given by the Aboriginals to King prior to his return. Without this help he would have surely died also. This dollar will not be released into circulation, these 2 releases being the only way to obtain this standard 25mm size, 9 gram, aluminium bronze one dollar coin. The obverse depicts the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The coins are issued in an informative folded card (in a plastic cover) with an insert containing an excerpt from Wills' diary. Mintage will be capped at 40,000 for the unc set and just 25,000 for the proof set. Issue price is $15 for the uncirculated 2 coin set and $45 for the proof version. Final mintages can be found in the 2010 mintage table.

1776 Netherlands (Holland) Gold Ducat

In my previous entry about Australian proclamation coins I mentioned the Gold Ducat of the Netherlands which was valued at 9 shillings and sixpence in the proclamation. A small 21.8mm coin minted from about 3.49g of 0.986 fine gold you can see an example of the 1776 proclamation ducat above. Ducats were an international trade coin of Europe that were first minted in Venice in the 13th century and first minted by the Dutch in 1589. Several European countries still mint ducats of the same size and gold content as have been minted for 500 years or more. The Dutch ducat is likely to have been named specifically by Governor King in the Proclamation of 1800 because of the proximity of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and the Dutch influence over the areas controlled by the British East India Company (such as in India and Ceylon). Because of these factors the Dutch ducat was likely to have been seen in some numbers in the new Colony of New South Wales.

The obverse depicts a knight facing right holding a bundle of arrows that symbolise the provinces of the Netherlands. The legend shows the mint (in the example above Holland), the year of issue, and the Latin motto CONCORDIA.RES PAR.CRES.HOL. This translates to "Through concord little things grow - Holland".

The reverse of the Proclamation Netherlands ducat depicts a Latin motto within a border. The Latin reads MO.ORD PROVIN FOEDER BELG.AD LEG.IMP. This translates to "Money of the Provinces of the Belgian Federation according to the law of the Empire".

The Netherlands gold ducat can be a harder coin to add to your proclamation coin collection. In mint state they can cost upwards of $1,000 even for common dated coins. Also, because they were a true trade coin they are often found well worn or bent showing the hard life they had to lead. All that being said, they are not particularly scarce and honest mid grade examples (VF or EF) are quite affordable and obtainable. When looking for a Proclamation Ducat look for a coin with good original lustre, a straight flan, and a well struck up knight. It is not unusual to find these coins with a poorly struck knights head (it is virtually missing on some coins) and these should be avoided.

If you collect Australian coins and haven't been living under a rock for the last 6 weeks then you should be well aware of the fact that the 2010 $25 Gold Proof Kangaroo at Sunset coin has been released by the RAM. As was the case with the 2009 Kangaroo at Sunset coin the RAM held a ballot to determine the allocation of this very limited mintage (just 1000 issued) coin. Unlike last year the RAM seems to have handled the process a lot better. Ballots were due in on the 12th of November with a limit of 1 ballot per person, international subscribers who won the coin were notified first and then Australian winners were to be notified by email on the 23rd of November. One of the authors of this blog was lucky enough to receive a notification on the 24th. Last year there didn't seem to be any notification, just a mysterious charge on your credit card!

One of the big problems last year was the dealer allocation that took place and numerous eBay coin dealers selling multiples of the coin while collectors were lucky to get one. This doesn't seem to have taken place this year. We've been watching eBay closely and while the initial prices for the coin on the secondary market are steep there doesn't seem to be anyone selling multiples of the coin and none of the sellers seem to be regular RAM dealers. Perhaps the outcry from last year had some effect! One thing is clear, the issue was heavily over-subscribed and many collectors will be forced to pony up a hefty amount over the $420 issue price to get one of these for their collection. The Australian coin forums we regularly read show collectors who missed out on this issue far outnumber those who were lucky enough to get one.

At the time of writing there were 10 2010 $25 Gold Proof Kangaroo at Sunset coins listed on eBay, 4 buy it nows for $1600 to $1995, and 6 auctions ranging in price from $999 to $1125. It appears that just 3 of the coins have successfully sold so far on eBay, for $1500, $1550, and $1900. All of these were buy it nows with best offers accepted so it is clear the sellers were keen to cash in for quick profits. It will certainly be interesting to see what the realised prices are for the current auctions so we can get a good idea of what collectors are willing to pay for this scarce issue.

Addendum: There appears to be one seller with two of these coins listed on eBay. As one member of a forum we frequent suggested, perhaps his dog was successful in the ballot!

Update 7 December 2009: The RAM must have shipped out the coins to customers last week as the number of coins listed on eBay in the last 4 days has surged to 26 and a number of them are using their own photos instead of using the stock RAM image of the coin. In addition 3 auctions finished on the weekend for $1350, 1352, and $1360 so it appears that the market is setting the price at around $1300-$1400.