J A N UA RY 2 0 1 7
THE SQUARE PENNY – A GREAT AUSTRALIAN RARITY
Seldom seen on the market,
Downies is proud to present
the 1921 Pattern Square
Kookaburra Penny Type 11.
A prestigious centrepiece for
any serious Australian collection
or diversified portfolio, this
great Australian rarity is in
near flawless condition.
Struck at the Melbourne branch of
Britain’s Royal Mint, the 1919-21
Square Kookaburra Patterns form
what is unquestionably one of Australia’s
rarest series. Indeed, the number of coins
in this highly desirable series is minute.
The TOTAL mintage for the thirteen
different 1919-21 Square Pattern types
is approximately 200 coins!
artist Douglas Richardson, the 1921
Square Kookaburra Penny Type 11
was the penultimate issue of the series.
Undeniably rare, and highly desirable in
any condition, this particular example
of this key Australian type has a few tiny
wisps of carbon, but is otherwise in superb
about FDC quality
Notable for the distinctive obverse portrait
of King George V by noted Australian
1921 SQUARE PENNY
PATTERN R11 aFDC
37,000
12062
$
ENTIRE MINTAGE JUST 18 COINS!
The 1938 Crown Proof FDC
is extraordinarily rare. Only
the second example of this coin
Downies has offered since the 1990s,
this is your chance to own one of
the few 1938 Crowns in existence.
Ø38.50mm
Although the official mintage was
250, it has long been thought that
the actual mintage was less than
20 – a state of affairs confirmed
by a letter from one of Australia’s
most respected numismatists of
the WWII era, David Raymond.
In 1939, Raymond referred to a
letter from the deputy master of the
Melbourne Mint, where the official
stated that a mere EIGHTEEN
1938 Crown Proofs were struck.
With so few in existence, it’s no
surprise that this coin is so rarely
seen on the market. Indeed, there
have been perhaps as few as five
or six offerings of the 1938 Crown
Proof in the last 50 years. Downies
Australian Coin Auctions has
offered this key type only twice
since 1963.
Featuring a light golden-grey toned
patina, with underlying mint bloom
and slight iridescence, this great
Australian rarity is in near FDC.
1938 CROWN PROOF
NEAR FDC
49,500
15898
$
PERFECT FDC QUALITY
The George VI 1937 Proof FDC is a rarity of world standing.
Desired by many, but available only to the privileged few, the mintage
of this imposing Australian rarity was only 100. Although that figure
is obviously tiny, the number in existence is much less than that.
The number of 1937 Crown Proofs remaining in perfect FDC is
infinitesimal. The coin before you is among that group. Notable for
the exceptional clarity of the designs, the available example of the
1937 Crown Proof FDC is in a superb state of preservation.
1937 CROWN PROOF FDC
2
34,500
AM389
$
For more information, email us at [email protected]
Ø38.50mm
ONE OF THE FINEST 1930 PENNIES…
The King of Australian Coins, the 1930 Penny
is virtually never seen in better than VF. The best
example of a circulating 1930 Penny ever offered by
Downies, and unquestionably rare in this grade, the
coin before you is in good Extremely Fine condition.
The images tell the story.
The quality of this immensely
rare coin is palpably obvious
from a single glance. Glossy,
reddish surfaces, a full centre
diamond, eight clear pearls,
a strong orb – this coin is
among the top 1% to 2% of
1930 Pennies. Assessed by
PCGS at AU50, Downies
has graded this 1930 Penny
at gEF. It is an extraordinary
example. It represents a truly
extraordinary opportunity.
The adage ‘the higher the
grade, the faster the growth’
is never more relevant than
when considering a coin
invariably found in lower grade.
The 1930 Penny is the most
potent example of this maxim.
Whether investor or collector,
this is an opportunity without
precedent. It must be grasped
with both hands.
1930 PENNY gEF
130,000
14113
$
Secure both the 1930 Penny gEF and the
1923 Halfpenny gEF and SAVE $4,950!
Ø30.80mm
RARELY SEEN gEF QUALITY
Australia’s rarest issued halfpenny, the 1923 Halfpenny is seldom
seen in the superb state of preservation seen here. A wonderful
opportunity for one of our clients, this particularly strong
example is in good Extremely Fine condition – rare as such.
1923 HALFPENNY gEF
9,950
14589
$
Ø25.50mm
For more information, call us on 1300 788 358
3
THE MOST SPECTACULAR PRESENTATI
PRESTIGIOUS
PRESENTATION
Matching Australia’s Last Prefix
predecimal banknotes with their First
Prefix decimal counterparts, the 1991
25th Anniversary Banknote Set and
1994 Triple Anniversary Banknote
Set forms Australia’s most valuable, most
historic banknote collection.
4
A unique, prestigious tribute to the
changeover to decimal currency in
1966, the RBA assembled just 800
1991 25th Anniversary Banknote
Presentation Sets from the Australian
National Archives. Each set encompassed
Australia’s LAST 10/-, £1, £5 and
Take advantage of this exclusive opportunity, call us on 1300 788 358
£10
notes, united with the FIRST
$1, $2, $10 and $20. The essential
complement, issued to honour Australia's
other three decimal denominations, the
1994 Triple Anniversary Banknote Set
comprises Australia's FIRST $5, $50
and $100 notes.
ION IN AUSTRALIAN BANKNOTE HISTORY
A presentation without parallel, the four
predecimal notes bear Last Prefixes, with
each decimal note carrying the First Prefix!
Doubly astounding, all eleven Uncirculated
notes are matched by serial number! Every
note carries a serial ending in ‘038’, with
each decimal note bearing the incredibly
low serial number of ‘000038’!
The perfect setting for one of Australia’s
most prized collector items, the 1991
25th Anniversary Set is housed in a
superb leather-bound 23-page album,
with the 1994 Triple Anniversary Set
presented within an opulent leatherbound 16-page album.
With a limited edition of just 800,
this lavish presentation is seldom
offered. We have only one set available.
12,950
16047
AUSTRALIAN ANNIVERSARY $
BANKNOTE SET PAIR
For more information, email us at [email protected]
5
AMONG AUSTRALIA’S MOST IMPORTANT RARITIES
The 1852 Adelaide Pound Type I is Australia’s
first gold coin – and one of our most important
rarities. A coin for the connoisseur, we have an
example of this iconic Gold Rush artefact in
better-than-usually-seen quality.
The 1852 Adelaide Pound
was struck to alleviate a
currency crisis caused by
the Gold Rush. After the first
40 to 50 coins were struck,
however, the reverse die failed,
and was replaced. This initial
striking became known as the
1852 Adelaide Pound Type I.
This rare type is distinguished
from the Type II by the diecrack to the left of ‘DWT’
on the reverse, and the
presence of inner beading
rather than crenellations.
It is believed that perhaps as
few as 30 examples of the 1852
Adelaide Pound Type I survive
today, with most exhibiting
signs of circulation. Indeed,
1852 ADELAIDE POUND TYPE I gVF
6
although this coin is obviously
rare in any condition, it is
seldom seen in better grade.
An attractive, problem-free
example, the coin before you
is graded good Very Fine. It
is underpinned by a lovely
lustre and well defined details.
The ‘ONE’ on the reverse is
a recognised ‘high spot’, for
example, and regularly exhibits
wear, but all the lettering in the
inscriptions of this coin is clear
and sharp.
An outstanding example of
Australia’s first gold coin, this
good Very Fine 1852 Adelaide
Pound Type I forms the
ultimate collector acquisition.
97,500
11130
$
For more Australian rarities, visit www.downies.com
Ø23mm
‘EARLY STRIKE’ TYPE II ADELAIDE POUND!
Your chance to become one of around 200 people
to own this exceptional rarity, we have one 1852
Adelaide Pound Type II available – struck early
in the production of Australia’s first gold coin type.
Created in response to a
severe coin shortage caused
by the Gold Rush, the vast
majority of Adelaide Pounds
were melted down due to a
rise in the price of gold. The
coin before you is one of
approximately 200 examples
that remain in existence.
Fascinatingly, it can be
established that this particular
example was struck early in
the production process. Coins
struck later in the minting
of the 1852 Adelaide Pound
feature five small dots above
’22 CARATS’ on the reverse,
following modification of the
die. Whilst the absence of
those dots on this example
provides conclusive evidence
1852 ADELAIDE POUND TYPE II gVF
of its ‘early strike’ status, the
quality of the coin itself also
speaks volumes.
Unlike some Adelaide Pounds,
which are weakly struck, this
coin is highly detailed. On
the obverse of many Adelaide
Pounds, the word ‘ASSAY’ and
the rim immediately above it
are often extremely flat. With
this attractive, problem-free
example, this area is defined
by a strong strike.
With just the single example
in stock – assessed by NGC
as XF45, and conservatively
graded by Downies at good
Very Fine – you must act now.
24,750
15947
$
Ø23mm
Enquire today, call us on 1300 788 358
7
THE RARE, ICONIC 1935 WAITANGI CROWN
Not offered by Downies for at least two decades, and seen very
infrequently at auction, we are delighted to present New Zealand’s
rare 1935 Waitangi Crown.
Rightly described as ‘the pinnacle of the New Zealand series’, the
silver 1935 Waitangi Crown was created to honour the 1840 Treaty
of Waitangi – New Zealand’s founding document. With the mintage
closed at 1,128, this iconic coin is understandably very rare.
Ø38.60mm
Graded at PR63 by PCGS, and underpinned by attractive toning,
we have just the single Proof example available.
8,750
15791
$
NZ 1935 WAITANGI CROWN
PROOF PCGS PR63
THE SYDNEY-EMDEN MEDAL
RARE – ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN
A fascinating relic of Australia’s
first major naval victory, the
Sydney-Emden Medal is
extremely rare. Produced from
1,000 of the 6,429 Mexican
Silver Dollars found aboard the
Emden after defeated by the
Sydney, we have a single example
of this famous medal – in strong
Very Fine quality.
The von Mücke Silver Medal
honours Kapitänleutnant
Hellmuth von Mücke – who
led his men on a remarkable
11,000-mile journey back to
Germany after SMS Emden’s
demise in 1914. Rare and highly
desirable, this superb example
is considered to be one of the
finest known at FDC quality.
1914 SYDNEY EMDEN
MEDAL VF
4,450
10942
$
1915 VON MÜCKE MEDAL
995
14196
$
Ø33mm
PHONE ORDER ESSENTIAL – DON'T MISS OUT!
Call 1300 788 358
Mon to Fri from 9am-5pm
PO Box 3131
Nunawading, Victoria, 3131
WE MUST EMPHASISE THAT AN ORDER BY PHONE IS
ESSENTIAL. IF YOU SEND YOUR ORDER BY MAIL, OR EVEN
BY EMAIL, IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU WILL MISS OUT.
©2017 – All rights reserved. All items offered are subject to being sold out prior to receipt of order. Products may be pictured not at actual size. Some items in this magazine may not be
immediately available from our retail outlets. This list cancels all previous direct selling lists. All prices in Australian dollars. Prices shown are subject to change without notice. Prices may include GST.
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