January 2016
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Rare Spanish Silver Dollar Colonial Notes!
An immensely rare, intensely fascinating
element of Australia’s earliest history, we
are delighted to present two Lempriere & Co
currency notes – denominated in Spanish
Silver Dollars!
Lempriere Four Dollars is, by some distance,
the finest known of its denomination, with
the $2 much better than usually seen.
officially accepted in the colonies was not
British sterling but Spanish Silver Dollars!
Promissory and currency notes were
actually denominated in Spanish Dollars!
Physical evidence of this extraordinary
turn of events, the Lempriere & Co Four
The early Australian settlers suffered from
an extreme currency shortage. A remarkable Dollars and Two Dollars notes are among
the most famous colonial issues – and the
time in Australian history, the cash crisis
rarest. Hand-signed by merchant Thomas
forced colonial authorities to recognise
Lempriere, and held in the same collection
traders’ promissory and currency notes
for many decades, the notes are in excellent
as legal tender. More amazingly, between
condition considering their antiquity. The
1822 and 1826, the basic unit of currency
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Known by just a few examples, this is an
outstanding opportunity to secure a piece of
Australia’s earliest colonial history.
1823 LEMPRIERE & CO FOUR SPANISH
DOLLARS CURRENCY NOTE VF
1823 LEMPRIERE & CO TWO SPANISH
DOLLARS CURRENCY NOTE FINE
BUY BOTH SPANISH LEMPRIERE NOTES
SAVE $1,950
To order
14,500
13174
$
8,950
13175
$
21,500
13509
$
1300 788 358
Among Australia’s earliest banknotes
Issued by the Western Australian Bank, which
was established in 1841, this important
colonial artefact was Western Australia’s first
banknote, and one of the earliest banknotes
issued in Australia. One of perhaps as few
as 300 to 400 known examples in unissued,
Uncirculated condition, this desirable note
represents extraordinary value-for-money
for such an early piece of Australian colonial
history at under $1,000.
1844 £1 WA BANK UNSIGNED/UNISSUED UNC
995
AU148
$
One of just five known examples
Issued by the founder of the Victorian town
of Echuca, the Hopwood’s Ferry £1 is a
great Australian colonial rarity. Indeed, this
note is known by just five examples!
Known as the Father of Echuca, Henry
Hopwood rose from convict to wealthy
businessman, with his entrepreneurial
spirit extending to the issue of private
promissory notes. Unissued, and graded
Very Fine, the very rare, important colonial
era Hopwood’s Ferry £1 is a compelling
piece of early Australiana.
A large note, the colonial era Hopwood’s
Ferry £1 measures 240mm x 140mm
186_ £1 HOPWOOD'S FERRY $
SPECIMEN NOTE VF
5,500
12187
2
Unique Five Royals Trial
A core element of the nation’s march to
decimalisation, and a tangible reminder of
what Australian currency may have been,
we are proud to present the sole known
example of the Queen Elizabeth II Five
Royals Banknote Trial.
public outcry was huge, but before the
Conservative Government admitted defeat
and chose the popular option of the 'dollar',
a small number of trial Royal notes were
produced – including the uniface Five
Royals Banknote Trial before you.
Nearly 1,000 names were considered
for Australia’s new unit of currency in
the lead-up to decimalisation in 1966.
Rejecting a range of rather exotic
suggestions, including ‘Dinkum’, ‘Digger’,
‘Koala’ and ‘Kwid’, arch-Royalist PM Sir
Robert Menzies favoured the ‘Royal’. The
A ‘complete’ banknote, with full simultan
and intaglio print phases, and distinguished
by an AA letter prefix, ‘000000’ serials and
the signatures of Coombs/Wilson, this is the
only Royals Trial note of this design. Printed
on the actual predecimal banknote paper
used in the 1960s, this is one of only two
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3
notes from the Royals Banknote Trial Series
not held in the RBA Archive.
A once-in-lifetime opportunity, this is your
chance to own a key element of Australian
numismatics – and to become the only
collector in the world to own this symbolic,
important, immensely rare type.
85,000
12785
QUEEN ELIZABETH II COOMBS/WILSON $
5 ROYALS BANKNOTE TRIAL
To order
1300 788 358
Immensely rare in this grade
Australia’s highest profile
rarity, hotly pursued in any
condition, the 1930 Penny
is never more desirable
than when found in the
upper echelons of quality. In
about Very Fine, with just a
couple of reverse scratches,
the coin before you is an
outstanding example of The
King of Australian Coins.
The nature of the creation
of the 1930 Penny means
that this coin is seldom
seen in the state of
preservation apparent here.
The Melbourne Mint was
not required to strike many
coins from 1929 to 1933,
due to the Great Depression,
and records suggest no
pennies were struck in
1930. It is now accepted
that perhaps 3,000 were
struck in this year to test
1930-dated dies. As it is
likely that these coins were
released into circulation
with the 1931 Penny issue,
it is logical that this iconic
copper rarity is usually only
found in well-worn condition.
One of approximately 1,500
known examples, this
particular 1930 Penny is a
seldom-seen exception to
the rule. With the obverse
portrait of King George V
distinguished by six clear
pearls, and clear centre
diamond, this premium
quality example is in betterthan-usually-seen about
Very Fine. The opportunity to
own a coin in this grade only
emerges occasionally.
The ultimate addition to any
predecimal collection, and
an attractive acquisition
for the astute investor, the
chance to become one of
the privileged few to own
a superior example of
Australia’s most famous coin
should not be ignored.
1930 PENNY aVF
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Ø30.80mm
31,500
AM394
$
4
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A great Australian rarity…
One of the great icons of
Australian numismatics, the
1813 NSW Silver Dump
is exceedingly rare in any
grade. Featuring clear detail
in the lettering, the date and
the crown, this particular
example of this highly
desirable colonial rarity is
in seldom seen near Very
Fine quality.
a result, it is thought that
less than 1,000 Dumps exist
today. A vast majority of
those 1,000 coins are very
well worn, with only a tiny
percentage remaining in
better grade.
Offered just a few times a
year in the splendid state of
preservation seen here, this
is a prestigious opportunity
for the serious collector
One of the first two coin
or eagle-eyed investor to
types struck in Australia,
own a superior example of
this unusually high-grade
this extremely rare, deeply
1813 Silver Dump was one
of 40,000 punched from the historic coin. Graded at
near Very Fine, with the odd
centre of 40,000 Spanish
scratch, this premium grade
Silver Dollars procured by
Governor Lachlan Macquarie piece of early Australiana is
presented with a Downies
from India in 1812. The
Certificate of Authenticity.
Dump and the outer ring of
the restruck Spanish silver
coins, the famous Holey
Dollar, were the lifeblood of
the colonial economy until
the 1820s.
When legal tender status
was withdrawn in 1829,
however, most were either
swapped for British currency 1813 NSW DUMP
TYPE A/1 NEAR VF
or melted for the silver. As
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Ø18mm
12,950
AO437
$
5
To order
1300 788 358
The Prize of the Proclamation
Circulating in the Australian
colonies after Settlement, and
the largest, most valuable
coin of Governor Philip Gidley
King's Currency Proclamation
of 1800 at a value of £4,
Portugal’s Gold Johanna is a
great Australian rarity.
Struck in Portugal and the
Portuguese colony of Brazil
from 1722 to 1732, we have
just the single example of this
majestic coin available – the
Spanning 38mm in diameter, and
comprising nearly an ounce of 90% pure
gold, this iconic Australian colonial rarity
will make a compelling centrepiece of
any collection – or diversified portfolio.
very final date of this crucial
short-lived series! In a strong
state of preservation, with
good detail in the designs and
alluring lustrous surfaces,
this majestic colonial rarity is
graded Extremely Fine.
BRAZIL 1732M JOHN V
JOHANNA EF
11,750
13259
$
Ø38mm
Icons of Colonial Australia
Struck in the year of
European Settlement
of the Great Southern
Land, the 1788 Gold
Spade Guinea is
naturally the most
sought after date of
the series in Australia.
Just three coins
available – all in Very
Fine condition.
GB 1788 SPADE GUINEA VF
Ø24mm
1,695
$
AM838
Britain’s premier gold
coin before the
Sovereign, the Guinea
was listed in the
Proclamation of 1800
– Australia’s first
official currency
system. In superb EF,
we have the King
George III 1793 Spade
Guinea available.
GB 1793 SPADE
GUINEA EF
6
Ø24mm
1,995
$
AR022
Only struck in 1787 –
in the year the First
Fleet left England –
the Proclamation Era
George III Sixpence
circulated extensively
in early colonial
Australia. Surprisingly
affordable given the
superb EF-aUnc
quality!
GB 1787 SIXPENCE
EF-aUNC
Ø21mm
195
$
AE780
One of only two sets in private hands…
The importance of this highly
desirable Commonwealth issue is
matched only by its immense rarity.
Issued in the tiniest of numbers,
the Fiji 1934 5-Coin Proof Set
before you is believed to be one
of only TWO examples held in
This important 5-coin set comprises
private hands!
Fiji’s cupro-nickel 1934 halfpenny
and penny and silver 1934 sixpence,
shilling and florin. Struck by the
Royal Mint in London, and defined
by great detail in the designs and
light, attractive toning, the 1934
5-Coin Proof Set was part of the
famed Arielle Collection – one of
the most impressive collections of
$
FIJI 1934 GEORGE V
British colonial coins ever offered at
5-COIN PROOF SET
AX204
auction.
A truly great, important
Commonwealth rarity, seen on the
market a mere handful of times
over the last few decades, we are
delighted to present Fiji’s ‘first year
of issue’ 1934 5-Coin Proof Set.
14,995
US Icon – the Double Eagle Gold $20
One of the most revered coin
types in US numismatics, first
struck in the year of the 1849
California Gold Rush, the US
$20 Double Eagle is always
highly sought after. Comprising
33.44g of 90% gold, the
34.10mm $20 Double Eagle
was issued bearing the Liberty
Head design from 1849-1907.
We have a variety of dates
available on the Order Form –
all in Choice Uncirculated
quality!
2,495
USA 1849-1907 $20 DOUBLE $
EAGLE CHOICE UNC
VARIOUS
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Ø34.10mm
7
To order
1300 788 358
A key sovereign date – in Extremely Fine
One of Australia’s most
revered sovereign rarities,
we have a single high grade
example available of the
Sydney Mint’s famed 1923S
Sovereign.
during WWI, with very few
coins, if any, remaining on
Australian shores. Today, the
1923S is rightly regarded as a
great Australian rarity, missing
from most collections.
The mintage of the 1923S
Sovereign was very low, at
just 416,000. As with virtually
all Sydney Mint sovereigns of
the Roaring 20s, however, the
mintage is largely irrelevant
in determining the rarity. It
is all but certain that a vast
majority of the mintage
was dispatched overseas to
satisfy the enormous debt
accumulated by Australia
An eye-catching example,
grading at Extremely Fine
with strong detail and a lovely
natural lustre, do not miss this
mouthwatering opportunity
to dine at the head table of
Australian numismatics.
One of the prime rarities of the
Australian 1855-1931 Gold
Sovereign Series, seldom seen
on the market, the Sydney
Mint’s 1923S Sovereign will
add a prestigious lustre to any
collection.
22,500
AX143
1923S GEORGE V $
SOVEREIGN EF
Ø22mm
An outstanding opportunity…
With a tiny mintage of just
530,000, the 1920M
Sovereign is one of the key
George V Melbourne Mint
sovereign dates. The coin
before you, which is graded
about Uncirculated, would
normally be worth around
$12,000, but a few minor
obverse scratches means
that we are willing to
sacrifice this 1920M
Sovereign for just $7,500.
Don’t miss this outstanding
opportunity!
1920M GEORGE V SOVEREIGN
aUNC (SCRATCHED)
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7,500
12483
$
8
Ø22mm
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One of Australia’s greatest gold rarities…
Your chance to own one of
Australia’s most desirable
rarities, we have the
Sydney Mint’s famed 1926S
Sovereign in stock!
The last sovereign date struck
at Australia’s first Mint, the
1926S is among the rarest
coins of the 1855-1931
Sovereign Series. As with so
many 1920s Sydney Mint
sovereigns, it is thought that
almost the entire mintage of
the 1926S was melted, as the
government required a huge
amount of bullion to satisfy
foreign debt after WWI.
Thus, like many of its 1920s
counterparts, the rarity of
the 1926S is established not
by the mintage, but by its
infrequent appearances on
the market over the decades.
Offered just a few times
a year, with as few as 50
examples believed to exist,
any opportunity to secure this
iconic rarity must be grasped
with both hands.
A supreme acquisition, we
have just one the 1926S
Sovereign available – in
Extremely Fine.
1926S GEORGE V
SOVEREIGN EF
The 1926S Sovereign is
undeniably rare. Indeed, in the
period from 1887 to 1931,
only the famed 1920S – known
by perhaps seven examples
– carries a higher catalogue
value than the 1926S.
29,500
AS722
$
Scarce, yet surprisingly affordable…
With the mintage closed at the
tiny number of just 394,000,
the Sydney Mint’s 1924S Gold
Sovereign is unquestionably
rare in the state of
preservation seen here.
Glittering quality, the single
coin we have available is in
near Uncirculated condition.
The Melbourne Mint’s last
sovereign, and last in the 18551931 Sovereign Series, the
1931M has the lowest recorded
mintage of any Australian
sovereign. A mere 57,779 coins
were struck! Rare in BU quality,
as here, we have two pristine
examples available.
Ø22mm
1924S GEORGE V
SOVEREIGN NEAR UNC
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3,950
AM838
$
9
To order
Ø22mm
Ø22mm
1,950
AS249
1931M GEORGE V $
SOVEREIGN BU
1300 788 358
Just one example of vir
Underpinned by lovely full mint bloom, this Struck at the Calcutta Mint exactly 100
example of the 1926 halfpenny is in Choice years ago, this WWI era George V penny is
presented in strictly Uncirculated quality.
Unc quality – scarce as such.
1926 HALFPENNY CHOICE UNC
1,495
$
AV879
Struck in the last year of WWI, this historic
threepence date is surprisingly affordable
given the Choice Unc quality.
945
$
1918M THREEPENCE CHOICE UNC
AS622
Australia’s lowest-mintage threepence date
– just 528,000 struck! Key to the 1910-64
series, and immensely rare in Unc.
1942 THREEPENCE UNC
$
4,950
AS917
695
$
1916 PENNY UNC
AP183
Featuring glorious rainbow toning, the last
threepence bearing the Melbourne Mint’s
M Mintmark is rare in Gem Unc.
1921M THREEPENCE GEM UNC
$
1,495
12698
Scarce in Choice Unc, this precisely
detailed example of the 1917M Shilling
features subtle, beautiful toning.
1917M SHILLING CHOICE UNC
10
$
995
AS628
The first George V threepence date –
in superb Uncirculated quality with
absolutely gorgeous rainbow toning.
795
$
1911 THREEPENCE UNC
12700
A superbly detailed, lustrous example of
the 1922 Threepence – seldom offered in
Choice Uncirculated quality.
1922 THREEPENCE CHOICE UNC
$
1,750
12699
Missing from most collections in better
grade, the King George V 1918 Shilling is a
must-have in strictly Uncirculated quality.
1918 SHILLING UNC
800
$
AV209
rtually every coin in stock!
The key George VI shilling date, the lowmintage 1940 shilling is extremely rare in
MS65 – equivalent to Gem BU.
1,750
$
1940 SHILLING MS65 GEM BU
AW704
Rare, the 1932 Florin is the key to the
1910-63 Florin Series – lowest mintage
florin, with only 188,000 struck!
1,495
$
1932 FLORIN VF35 ANACS
11852
The key King George VI Florin, with a tiny
mintage of 630,000, the 1939 Florin is
rare in Choice Unc, as here.
1939 FLORIN CHOICE UNC
$
3,750
13498
Australia’s first florin, and a unique, oneyear Edward VII type, the 1910 Florin is
exceptionally rare in Unc.
4,100
$
1910 FLORIN UNC
AS176
Tough-to-find in such nice quality, this
Roaring 20s George V Florin is a musthave in near flawless about Unc.
1928 FLORIN aUNC
525
$
AT802
Scarce, the low-mintage 1934-35 Centenary A pristine example of the last George V
Florin (just 54,000 issued!) is presented in
Florin, this superb 1936 Florin is in strictly
the original Foy’s Bag of issue.
Uncirculated condition.
1934-35 CENTENARY FLORIN
IN FOY'S BAG UNC
1,290
$
AT394
1936 FLORIN UNC
549
$
10173
Australia’s largest issued circulation type,
comprising nearly an ounce of sterling silver
and measuring 38.50mm in diameter, the
1937 Crown (Five Shillings) was issued to
celebrate the Coronation of King George VI.
The centrepiece of every predecimal
collection, and a must-have in strictly
Uncirculated quality.
250
$
1937 CROWN UNC
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SH234
11
1938 Crown aUnc also available on Order Form
To order
1300 788 358
Australia’s rarest Overdate type…
A landmark opportunity, we
are delighted to present the
immensely rare 1922/21
Threepence Overdate in
better-than-usually-seen Very
Good to about Fine condition!
Australia’s most desirable
overdate type, known by no
more than 900 examples, this
coin is a rarity of the highest
order. Highly sought after
regardless of the condition,
and usually found graded
at Very Good or below, the
1922/21 Threepence Overdate
creates fierce competition
when offered in superior grade
– as presented here.
Ø16mm
7,750
12001
$
1922/21 THREEPENCE
OVERDATE SUPERIOR VG/aF
Rare Sydney Mint Half Sovereign Error!
A sensational engraving
Error type, distinguished
by an upside-down ‘A’ for
the ‘V’ in ‘Victoria’ in the
obverse description, the
1857 Sydney Mint Half
Sovereign is immensely
rare. One of few Gold Rush
Error types, yet to be listed
in the McDonald’s Guide,
we have one example of
this highly desirable rarity
available – graded VF and
slabbed by the USA’s NGC.
1857 SYDNEY MINT
HALF SOVEREIGN TYPE II
INVERTED A FOR V VF
5,450
11250
$
Ø19.30mm
MAIL
PO Box 3131
Nunawading, Vic 3131
T: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
1300 788 358
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E: [email protected]
F: (03) 8456 8401
©2016 – All rights reserved. Every Downies catalogue is printed on environmentally friendly chlorine-free and acid-free paper manufactured by an accredited mill. Both paper
manufacturer and printer are accredited to ISO14001, the internationally recognised standard to Environmental Management. 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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