How to Determine a Genuine Clipped Coin Error

We’ve looked at all the different types of clips before and how they’ve occured but how can you really tell if you have a genuine clip or not?

Often it is difficult to tell if a clip is a genuine error from the mint or if someone has simply used a guillotine or tin snips to manufacture the defect. There are a few distinguishing features that will help you determine a genuine coin clip. A genuine clip will show at least one of these effects.

1. The Blakesley Effect: named after the American numismatist who first described this defect. It occurs as a weakness on the rim opposing the clip site. This only occurs on coins in which the planchets have been pre-rimmed before striking. Coins that are rimmed during the striking process of the coin such as the Australian 50c will not show the Blakesley effect. You can see an example of this effect in the right image outlined in red below.

2. Fish-Tailing: is a deformation of the lettering in the legend or on the design around the clip site. Instead of the edges of the letters being straight, they have an inward lip and the metal has flowed outwards at the edges. Due to the incomplete planchet (the clip) the metal has not been contained during the striking so the edges of the letters or edges of the design have fish-tailed outwards. This will occur on the lettering or on any part of the design near the clip site. Often this might only be distinguishable under magnification, the image below left has been highlighted so you can see the fishtailing affecting this halfpenny.

3. Strike Weakness: will sometimes occur near the clip site. This is due to the planchet being slightly thinner on the edge at the clip. Because of the missing metal it will flow into the void creating a weak strike or a weakness in the area near the clip. This is clearly shown in the image below left.

A genuine 1961 halfpenny clip showing all 3 effects (highlighted in red)

A genuine 1961 halfpenny clip showing all 3 effects (highlighted in red)

Posted in Error Coins

Proclamation Coin – Spanish Silver Dollar or 8 Reales

Spanish Colonial 1801FM 8 Reales – Mexico Mint

In our previous entry about Australian proclamation coins I mentioned the Spanish Silver Dollar (or 8 reales) which was valued at 5s the proclamation. The 8 reales (or royals) coin of Spain and her colonies was probably the best known coin in the world at the time of Australian proclamation of 1800. Spanish milled dollars (also famously known as pieces of 8) were struck from 1732 until 1826. They are referred to as milled dollars because the planchets were made on a milling machine giving a uniform size and mass. Before 1732 8R coins were created by hammering the design onto irregularly shaped cobs cut from silver bars. From 1732 until 1773 Spanish Silver dollars were minted with the Spanish coat of arms on one side and the familiar Pillars of Hercules on the other, silver dollars from this period were known as ‘pillar dollars’. From 1773 onward the coat of arms gave way to a portrait of the Spanish monarch, coins from this time were known as ‘portrait dollars’. Spanish dollars were minted in several different mints, in several different countries, and with many different assayers initials on the pillar side of the coin. The number of varieties available is well beyond the scope of this article and has been the subject of many books.

Minted from about 27 grams of 0.913 fine silver the Spanish silver dollar formed the basis of silver dollars from many different countries for almost the next 200 years. It was the model for the US silver dollar (the 8R was legal tender in the USA until the 1860’s) with the silver content and size similar to US silver dollars minted until the 1930’s. Other countries minted silver coins of a similar size and silver content as the Spanish 8R, these included Great Britain, China, Japan, Mexico, many different South American countries, and even France.

When purchasing a Spanish silver dollar I think that originality of surfaces and genuine toning is paramount. Wear, while an important factor, is not critical. A nicely toned VF 8R is a lovely thing to behold and a lot more attractive than a dipped AU or UNC coin. That being said if you can find a toned uncirculated 8R at a reasonable cost I’d be jumping at the chance!. One thing to be aware of with silver dollars of Spain and her colonies is that some date / assayers / mint combinations are rare and can bring high prices from speci

Posted in Australian Proclamation Coins

The Upset or Rotated Die Coin Variety Error

Australia 2010 Upset 50c

Australia 2010 Upset 50c

An upset coin is produced during minting when the dies for the reverse and obverse of the coin are not aligned correctly. This may be because it was incorrectly installed in the press or it rotated during the production run of coins.

For Australian coins if you hold the reverse of the coin upright with a thumb and forefinger on the top and bottom edge you should be able to rotate the coin around to view the obverse which will be upright also. Australian coins are minted in what is known as ‘medal alignment’ -the back and front or heads and tails are both upright when viewed. Coins from other countries such as the USA for example mint their coins in what is known as ‘coin alignment’. This means if you hold the reverse of a ‘coin alignment coin’ (such an an American quarter) upright and rotate the coin around to view the obverse it will be upside down (in contrast to Australian coins).

A regular coin should have the Queen (or King) look at you straight on. During minting one of the dies might not be aligned correctly or might rotate during the production run. When turning the coin around, if a coin is an upset it will show the obverse (Queen’s side) facing anything but upright. She may be leaning over to the right 90 degrees (a 90 deg upset) or upside down (180 degree upset). You may find these upset errors in any number of degrees of the clockface.

If one side of the coin is only rotated a small amount, up to say 15 deg (or 1 o’clock) it won’t be considered an upset. This angle may be considered normal as there is a small allowance (tolerance) for slight angle movement in the struck coin. Pre-decimal coins may often have a slight degree of upset which is considered normal which is not so common in decimal coins.


Australia 2001 Upset $1

Australia 2001 Upset $1

During one production run of 2001 Centenary of Federation Dollars at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra this error occurred. Collectors have found varying degrees of upset coins ranging the entire clockface from 1 degree to 359 degrees. In this case during only one production run the obverse die rotated throughout the run causing the varying degrees of upset.

Other significant decimal coins which can be found with a rotated die are 1966 5 cent, 1966 10 cent, 2001 platypus 20c and 2010 50 cent coins. Interestingly with the 50c rotation, because of the 12 sides it’s believed that one die was either incorrectly installed in the press or was hubbed rotated just one angle of alignment out, 30 degrees or one side.

An upset coin will demand a premium over it’s regular counterpart. The degree of upset will also determine how collectable it is. A Federation $1 upset pulled from circulation with a 90 degree angle may fetch $20 or more depending on it’s condition so it’s worth looking out for this error in your change. It is also a coin that is not impossible to find! These Federation upsets are the most common upset coins to find. Any other upset of another denomination or a pre-decimal upset with a high rotation will certainly command a higher premium as they are much less common.

1966 10 cent Upset Variety

1966 10 cent Upset Variety

Posted in Error Coins

Australian Dollar Coins – 1994 Dollar Decade

Australia 1994 $1 Dollar Decade Dollar

Australia 1994 $1 Dollar Decade Dollar


It is perhaps appropriate that in the same year that the Australian dollar coin turns 25 that I do a quick entry on the coin celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the dollar coin. In 1994 the Royal Australian Mint released the ‘dollar decade’ dollar coin onto the collector coin market. While not released into general circulation it was struck in Aluminium Bronze with the C, S, and M mintmarks. Mintages for each of the mintmarks were 105,090 for the C mintmark, 74,474 for the S, and 79,256 for the M. It was also struck in silver with continuous reeding (5001 mintage) and in silver with the normal interrupted reeding (20,002 mintage). The coin struck from silver with the continuous reeding (struck for the NAA Coin Fair in 1994) is the key coin to get here, with a low mintage and a CV in 2009 of over $100. The other coins are fairly common and not too pricey.

Seen above the obverse of the coin depicts the Raphael Maklouf portrait of Queen Elizabeth. The reverse of the coin is by Vladimir Gottwald. The reverse image is a quite smart image of the old Australian $1 note morphing and merging into the ubiquitous mob of roos dollar coin. Viewed under magnification there is a remarkable amount of detail in the engraving of the coin and dollar notes on the reverse, it is a truly attractive reverse.

Posted in Collecting Coins

Rotated Double Struck Coin Error

Australian 19?? Half Penny - Rotated Double Strike

Australian 19?? Half Penny – Rotated Double Strike

Previously we talked about double struck coins errors but this entry largely covered double struck coins where the coin had been struck once and then partially left the coining chamber before being struck again. This results in two clearly visible strikes to the coin, with one partially overlapping the other.

There is a slightly different class of double struck coin known as the rotated double struck coin which we’ll speak about here.

The rotated double strike error occurs when a coin is struck and is ejected from the coining chamber but the struck coin falls back into the press. It is then struck again (within the collar) but the coin had rotated slightly so the result is two strikes to the coin that are rotated with respect to each other.

Above you can see an Australian half penny of indeterminate year that has been struck twice. You can see the results of the first strike clearly, with the second portrait visible at about 45 degrees to the correctly oriented portrait. You can also see a second kangaroos tail at 45 degrees to the first on the reverse of the coin. It appears that this coin rotated about 45 degrees counter clockwise (viewed from the obverse) when it was struck the second time. The second two figures of the date in both strikes has been obliterated by the other strike so it’s impossible to say what year this coin is dated.

Australian 1964 Penny - Rotated Double Strike

Australian 1964 Penny – Rotated Double Strike

Above is another rotated double strike. This time it is an Australian 1964 Penny. This coin has rotated nearly 90 degrees clockwise (viewed from the obverse) after the first strike. You can see this clearly on the reverse with the first set of kangaroo front legs emerging from the hind legs of the second strike. It’s not entirely clear in the image but you can also see the ribbon on the back of HM’s hair from the first strike in the middle of HM’s head from the second strike.

The coin below, again a 1964 penny rotated only a small amount and is clearly seen with a second date below on the reverse, another A at the end of AUSTRALIA and a multiple forehead on the Queen.

Another 1964m Penny Double Strike

Another 1964m Penny Double Strike

Posted in Error Coins

Off-Centre Coin Errors

We’ve spoken before about broadstrike error coins. There can be varying degrees of a broadstruck coin and as the size of the error increases and there begins to be missing elements of the coin then it becomes an off center strike. These off centre strikes are probably the most common and well known of errors as they are often very obvious and can be very spectacular errors.

Australian Threepence Off Centre Error

Australian Threepence Off Centre Error

The off center coin error is a massive variation on the out of collar error. In this case the blank is not fed into the press properly and lands in the collar incorrectly. For the off center strike only part of the blank is struck by the upper and lower dies. This results in only part of the design being struck on the coin and a coin that is not it’s usual round shape. Because of their unusual shape they are commonly picked up before they leave the mint or in rolling machines by security companies. They are most often explained as their % amount off centre.

This kind of coin error is worth a lot, many selling for hundreds if not thousands of dollars in high grade.

Australia $1 1985-1991 Mob of Roos Off Centre Error

Australia $1 1985-1991 Mob of Roos Off Centre Error

Posted in Error Coins

Out of Collar or Partial Collar Coin Errors

There are 3 different dies that strike a coin blank to make a coin. The obverse (heads) side, the reverse (tails) side and the collar die. The reverse die usually on the bottom is recessed below the collar. The collar die may seem insignificant but it is extremely important part of getting the strike correct and centered on the coin. The collar die holds the planchet so the two other dies can strike and effect the design on the coin precisely. The collar die also adds edge milling or reeding to some coins.

Occasionally during striking the blank doesn’t fall correctly into place. If there is a malfunction of the press particularly with the collar die or how the coin is held in place by the collar then you can end up with a whole range of errors or effects.

Straight Partial Collar
A straight partial collar occurs when the coin planchet falls into the chamber to be struck but is squarely disengaged from the collar die. The coin blank isn’t sitting correctly in the chamber so when it is struck the result is a semi struck edge but the same all the way around the coin edge.

Australia 2007 $2 Straight Partial Collar Error

Australia 2007 $2 Straight Partial Collar Error

Tilted Partial Collar
A tilted partial collar occurs the same as the straight partial collar but the coin is only partially out of the collar. This results in a line around the outside edge of the coin but this is on an angle possibly higher on one side than the other. This can often result in a slightly higher edge on one side of the coin which may also give the impression or a double or extended rim on the coin. This is quite often confused with a mule coin. You can refresh your memory on what a real mule coin is in our post about the $1/10c mule. For a coin with milling on its edge it is easy to see the effect of the collar only being partially engaged. A coin with a plain edge is slightly different. It may show signs of a “railroad” rim which resembles an edge like railroad track.

Australia 2000 20 Cent Tilted Partial Collar Error

Australia 2000 20 Cent Tilted Partial Collar Error


Out of Collar
Affectionately termed the “pancake” this coin resembles a coin that looks as if it has been flattened in a press. If this was the case then the designs would be flattened also. You can imagine the coin being fed into the chamber but that crucial third collar die not engaging, the resulting strike pressure would force the metal outwards and if not contained by the collar would result in an out of collar strike. This coin would have a wider diameter than a standard coin.

1956 Florin Out of Collar Error

1956 Florin Out of Collar Error

Posted in Error Coins

2000 Incuse Flag Millennium 50 Cent Variety

Year 2000 Incuse Milennium 50 Cent

Year 2000 Incuse Milennium 50 Cent

In the year 2000 the Royal Australian mint released a commemorative 50 cent coin into circulation celebrating the the dawn of the new millennium. This coin had the standard Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, and the reverse had a new design by Vladimir Gottwald. Seen above the reverse comprises a stylized Australian flag with the large legend “Millennium Year” and “50 Cents”. For those who don’t know, the Australian flag consists of the Union Jack in the top left, the 7 pointed federation star below, and the constellation ‘The Southern Cross’ to the right. With a mintage of nearly 17 million the Millennium 50 cent is hardly a scarce coin.

In a previous entry on the value of 50 cent coins I made mention of a variety of the Millennium 50 cent called the ‘incuse millennium’. This is a scarce die variety of the coin, with only around 200,000 manufactured. It is well worth looking out for in your change as they can still be found, and they are worth $20-30 in average circulated condition. Identifying the Incuse Flag Millennium is fairly simple, I’ve highlighted the areas of interest in the image above. Following is a list of identifiers to look out for:

  • The crosses of the Union Jack are incuse on the Incuse Millennium rather than in relief (raised) in the standard Millennium 50 cent.
  • The Federation Star (under the Union Jack) is slightly larger and has a smooth field on the Incuse Millennium. The standard Millennium 50 cent has a rougher field on the Federation Star and the star is slightly smaller.

It’s an easy variety to spot, and if you see a Millennium 50 cent in your change it’s worth taking a closer look at it, you could be about to spend a coin worth $20!

incuse-millennium-comparison

Click image to enlarge

The incuse variety was originally intended for coins used in Mint Sets and the Royal Australian Mint manufactured just one die with the flag variation. That decision was later overturned and the die used for one production run of coins for circulation -approximately 200,000 coins.

From an error collectors point of view it’s worth discussing fraudulent use of this coin in it’s proof state. The proof version of the millennium 50 cent only found in 2000 proof sets feature a coloured Australian Flag. Occasionally these have been removed from sets and exposed to acid or some sort of solvent to remove the colouring from the surface. This will leave a blank open field where the Australian Flag should be and remove the polished surfaces of the proof coin making it look like a circulation issue and not a proof. Attempts can then be made to pass off these coins as error coins with buyers potentially paying hundreds of dollars for these man-made fakes. Beware!

Posted in Collecting Coins, Error Coins

Australian 20 Cent Coins Value Part 1

Australian 2008 20 cent Platypus Reverse

Australian 2008 20 cent Platypus Reverse

Aside from the Australian 50 cent and $1 coins the 20 cent is the only other circulation coin that you will find with a different reverse to the standard issue*. The obverse of the 20c has the usual portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the Arnold Machin portrait from 1966 to 1984, the Raphael Maklouf portrait from 1985 to 1998, and the Ian Rank-Broadley from 1999 to present. The reverse of the standard issue pictures a swimming platypus designed by Stuart Devlin.

Like the values of Australian 50 cent coins the values of Australian 20 cent coins is largely dependent on the condition of the coin. Very few coins you might find in circulation will be worth anything more than 20 cents. I’ll take a look at the standard issues before I cover the rarer varieties you could keep an eye out for.

The Australian 20 cent was only produced with the standard platypus reverse until 1995 when a smallish issue of 4.8 million coins was issued with a reverse commemorating the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. In 2001 another issue was released commemorating the life of Don Bradman. 2001 was also the Centenary of Australian Federation and nine 20 cent coins with different reverses were released celebrating this. Coins were released for New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Norfolk Island, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. Most of these coins had an issue of 2 million coins, for some reason the Queensland and South Australian coins had a mintage of 2.3 million. Interestingly the reverse designs of the coins were the result of student design competitions in the schools of the respective states and territories of each coin.

2003 saw the release of a 20 cent celebrating the Year of the Volunteer (7.5 million minted), and 2005 a coin commemorating the 60th anniversary of World War II (32 million minted). In 2007, for the first time, there was a unique 20c issued in the uncirculated mint set (the Year of the Lifesaver), the same coin was also issued in a PNC. 2008 saw the cynical release of the two coin uncirculated coin sets by the RAM in addition to the normal uncirculated coin sets. This two coin set contains a unique 20 cent (the Year of Planet Earth) and the exercise was continued in 2009 with the Year of Astronomy 20 cent in the uncirculated two coin set.

Of the commemorative 20 cent coins mentioned above the United Nations, Bradman, and Centenary of Federation coins, if found in circulation may fetch a dollar or two each on Ebay. Truly uncirculated examples will get a dollar or two more. Catalogue values for each of these coins is only $6-$7 in uncirculated condition. The 2003 Volunteers and 2005 World War II 20 cent are worth face value, this is despite of how infrequently they show up in your pocket change. The mint set only coins, will very rarely (if ever) be found in circulation. The only real way of getting them is by getting a mint set and cutting them out of the set. Sometimes you’ll see individual coins available on Ebay because some people break up the mint sets to sell the coins and try to make a profit. Expect to pay $10-15 for one of them, and to receive about the same amount if you sell one.

In the next part of this entry I’ll cover some rare varieties of the 20 cent you can look out for in your pocket change that are worth a tidy sum.

*At the time of writing. Update July 2013. There have now been $2 coins with commemorative reverse designs issued.

Posted in Collecting Coins Tagged with: ,

1966 Wavy Baseline 20 cent

1966 Wavy Baseline 20 cent PCGS MS64

1966 Wavy Baseline 20 cent PCGS MS64

If you find an Australian 1966 20 cent piece in your change then you’d better take a second look. Did you know that a particular variety of the 1966 20 cent coin could be worth $100 or more!

In 1966 the 20 cent piece was minted in 2 different locations. About half of those coins were minted in Canberra and half in London at the Royal Mint in Birmingham. Of the 30 million coins minted in London just one of the dies that were used to press those coins was different. There was a small difference that makes this coin unique and worth a great deal more.

The oddity is that one die had a small differing feature. This variety is in the base of the 2 of the 20 on the reverse of the coin. There is an upward curve in that baseline of the 2 often called a wave, thus the nickname the ‘wavy 20’ or ‘wavy baseline 20 cent’. You can clearly see the differences in the “Wavy 20” and the regular 20 cent coin in the image below. The coin on the left has a distinct wave on the top of the baseline of the two. You’ll also note a corresponding indentation in the water swirl above the wave. By comparison the normal reverse 20 cent has no wave in either the base of the 2 or the water above the baseline.

Wavy Baseline (Left), Regular Coin (Right)

Wavy Baseline (Left), Regular Coin (Right)

Beware there are many forgeries around mimicking this wave often derived from some sort of heat treatment of the metal. A genuine wavy 20 has a gentle curve that is paralleled in the water swirl directly above.

A high grade example of one of these varieties is worth $3000-$5000 whilst a banged up coin you might find in your change might be worth $100-$200.

Posted in Australian Decimal Changeover, Collecting Coins

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Current Coin Values, Bullion Prices and Exchange Rates

AUD $19.29
Australian 1966 Round 50c
AUD $1,194.46
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These values are updated hourly using New York market prices. Coin values are purely the value of the gold or silver they contain and do not account for any numismatic value.
Prices Last Updated: 22:04 07 Jul 2025

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