Under Rated Australian 50 cent coins

markn · July 20, 2013, 02:46:13 PM

I was just updating this article on the value of Australian 50 cent coins over on the blog and it occurred to me that I don't actually collect 50 cent coins. I can gauge how tough certain years might be based on mintages but I've learned in the past this is not very accurate.

So, collectors of Australian 50 cent coins? What years are tough to get in truly GEM (say PCGS MS65 or better) grades? What years are under-rated? And if you had a hoard of UNC 50c coins from one year to put away as a future nest egg, what year would that be?

Unicorn · July 20, 2013, 02:52:24 PM

I'd hoard both 1973 and 1985 Mark, geez don't I wish I had!!!

trout · July 20, 2013, 02:53:36 PM

1972,1973 and 2005 COA coins in MS65 and above are pretty tough.
I also feel the Specimen Captain cook is Very underrated as well :ok:

stevo1962 · July 20, 2013, 03:20:35 PM

I'm buying up 1972 and 1973 COA UNC coins and cheap mint sets hoping to get a choice
50 cent coin out of them.I have a few GEMs of each but they are not cheap to buy as such

coxspau · July 20, 2013, 03:27:31 PM

Agree with trout on 1972 and 1973.

Don't entirely agree about 2005. It isn't tough to find in MS65 as they were only issued in the joint AUS/UK PNC. But if you could get a hoard of 2005, they would be worth holding on to.

Mister T · July 20, 2013, 03:31:56 PM

The 1977 and 1988 mules don't seem to get a lot of coverage.

Unicorn · July 20, 2013, 03:34:01 PM

QuoteThe 1977 and 1988 mules don't seem to get a lot of coverage.

Mr T, any idea on the mintages for those or are they likely just mint sport?

trout · July 20, 2013, 03:36:18 PM

Quote from: 'Mister T' pid='22172' dateline='1374300116'The 1977 and 1988 mules don't seem to get a lot of coverage.

I didn't even know they existed :blush:
Are they COA coins ?

Unicorn · July 20, 2013, 03:51:47 PM

1977 COA on CCF

1988 COA on CCF

Mister T · July 20, 2013, 03:52:15 PM

Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='22175' dateline='1374300241'Mr T, any idea on the mintages for those or are they likely just mint sport?

Probably mint sport. One sold recently (a 1977) and it was struck on an under-weight planchet I think.
I think three of the 1977 and one of the 1988 are known.

Quote from: 'trout' pid='22176' dateline='1374300378'I didn't even know they existed :blush:
Are they COA coins ?

Yes, they're coat of arms. I think older McDonald's catalogues had a little write-up but it seems to have gone missing in the last issue.

runway · August 10, 2013, 11:17:44 PM

1977 why is that rare sorry ?

Unicorn · August 11, 2013, 12:23:41 AM

Runway, it's a 1977 Coat Of Arms not the 1977 Silver Jubilee

Cooper S · September 18, 2013, 08:17:30 PM

The captain cook coin is very under rated in fact you never here about them anywhere they are quiet easy to find but.

robbiegal · September 18, 2013, 08:49:44 PM

couldn't agree more with you coopers
getting them real nice is another matter though!

Cooper S · September 18, 2013, 08:52:15 PM

I absolutely love that coin one of my favourites