Introduction

 

AUSTRALIAN COINS are among the most Beautiful and Unique coins that can be collected.

Many coin collectors living in the United States Collect American Coins.While Collecting Australian Coins in the U.S.A. or anywhere outside of Australia can be more difficult. The information on this site is dedicated to those who are interested in collecting Australian coins who live outside of Australia; but those from Australia will also find useful information here.

This site will provide you with information about Australian coins and links for additional information to assist you in obtaining coins and information. The majority of information on this site is about decimal coinage, but you will find some interesting information on predecimal coinage as well.

Much of the information on this site is gleaned from information currently on other sites, I have attempted to give each site credit for their information. I would like to thank all of the dealers and collectors, publishers and the Australian Mints, all of whom made this site possible.

If you have corrections or items you feel should be added to this site please email me with the information and I will try to update it as often as possible.

If you are interested in collecting coins with a very unique history and a special beauty, whose value keeps increasing, than Australian Coins will greatly satisfy you. However remember it has been said the best way to make a small fortune in Coin collecting is to start with a large one.

 

Australian coins are considered by many to be very unique, beautiful and worthwhile to collect.

 

This site will provide you with both information and links to make your collecting Australian coins easier. If you find any errors or would like to see other information about Australian coin listed, please contact me, by clicking on the logo in the upper left corner

 

About Me

When I lived in Australia it was easy to come across Australian coins. They were in your change when you went shopping, you got them at the bank and in vending machines and every coin shop had a good selection of coins.

I collect Pre decimal and Decimal Australian Coins and Australian PNCs all defined later in these pages.

 

Getting Started

If you are new to coin collecting, there are many books available in the U.S.A to help you become familiar with the hobby of numismatics (coin collecting). If your interest is in Australian Coins, you will find Australian reference books a little harder to locate in the U.S.A., but links are included on the Links page will assist you in locating them. (See Links Page)

 

Once you have decided that collecting Australian Coins is something that you want to do. Then you need to decide what type of collector you are going to be. There are those who collect as a hobby, there are some who collect for investment, and there are some who collect for a myriad of other reasons.

An interesting article on collector types is located at: http://www.heavypen.com/coins/

 

Coin Collecting Basics

Quiz:

Can you answer these questions taken from the Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge booklet?

 

Explain these collecting terms:

Obverse

Reverse

Reeding

Clad

Type set

Date set

Explain the terms: poor, good, very good, fine, very fine, extremely fine, and uncirculated.

Explain the term “proof” and why it is not a grade. Tell what “encapsulated” coins are.

Know three different ways to store a collection, and describe the benefits, drawbacks, and expenses of each method