Coins, or money in general, are a vital part of the Aussie way of life.

If you ever found yourself jingling a handful of $1 coins in your pocket, consider taking a closer look.

One of those humble coins could be hiding a quirky secret that's worth a tidy sum!


Thanks to a rather 'unfortunate' error, some $1 coins are fetching up to 10 times their face value.

Enter the legendary 'spew roo' coin, a collector's delight and a true-blue Aussie oddity.

The 'spew roo' coin is a $1 coin with an extra blob of metal that appears under the mouth of the top kangaroo in a depiction of a mob of roos.


To the untrained eye, it might look like a bit of wear and tear over years of circulation.

However, coin collectors consider this a prized sight.

The blob makes it look as though the top kangaroo has a chunder on the roo below, hence the cheeky nickname.

Victoria-based collector Michael McCauley recently stumbled upon one of these rare finds.

In a video he posted on social media, these coins typically sell for between $5 and $10, depending on their condition.


The 'spew roo' error is a product of a fault in the minting process.

Over time, the die, which stamps the coin's design, could crack or break.

This error could lead to a 'cud', or a raised blob of metal on the coin.

In the case of the spew roo, the cud should appear under the top kangaroo's mouth, creating a 'spew' effect.

Here are other cud errors that could be spotted on $1 coins:

• The Backpack Roo: An extra blob of metal across the back of the top kangaroo, making it look like it's off on a bushwalk.
• The Rabbit Ears: Where the top kangaroo appears to have floppy, rabbit-like ears thanks to a misplaced blob.
• The Missing Leg: On some 2015 $1 coins, the third kangaroo from the top is missing a leg under its belly. These rare coins could fetch between $2 and $10.

What makes these coins valuable?

The value of these quirky coins depends on a few factors:

• Condition: As with all collectables, the better the condition, the higher the price.
• Size and location of the error: The more pronounced and unusual the cud, the more desirable the coin.
• Year of minting: While spew roos can appear on coins from various years, some dates are rarer than others.

McCauley recommended everyone to take their time when sorting through their change.

'You can get them on pretty much any date, so it's worth going slow if you want to try and find something like that,' he shared.


Why do collectors love error coins?

Error coins like the spew roo are a fascinating slice of Aussie history.

These coins serve as a reminder that even the most precise machines could have a hiccup and turn those little mistakes into treasures.

For collectors, finding an error coin is a bit like striking gold—especially when it comes from loose change!

Take a closer look at the 'spew roo' coin in this video:

How to check your coins

If you're keen to join the hunt, here are a few tips:

• Grab a magnifying glass: Some errors are tiny and easy to miss.
• Check both sides of the coin: While most errors are on the kangaroo side, it's worth inspecting the Queen's portrait, too.
• Look for raised blobs or missing details: Anything that looks out of place could be valuable.
• Keep an eye on the year: While errors can appear on any date, some years are more collectable.

If you're lucky enough to spot a spew roo or another error coin, you can sell it online, take it to a coin dealer like Mr McCauley, or keep it as an addition to your collection.

Your next $1 coin could be worth a whole lot more than you think!
Have you ever found a rare or unusual coin in your change? Do you collect coins, or do you have a funny story about a quirky find? Share your experiences in the comments below!