Perth man turns a quick pie stop into a $110 windfall thanks to a rare $2 coin
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In an unexpected twist of fate, what was supposed to be a routine stop at a Perth petrol station turned into a lucrative discovery for Joel Kandiah, a local numismatist and the mind behind the social media account The History of Money.
Kandiah's keen eye for currency led him to identify a rare $2 coin among his $9 in change—a coin that could be worth up to a staggering $110.
'I just went through my normal process and made the transaction,' he said.
'Then I turned around, looked at my coins, and just stood there. I just thought you have got to be kidding me.'
'I looked at it and kept shaking my head. It was just this rare moment of joy.'
The coin that caused such a stir was a purple-coloured $2 piece minted in 2013 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
With just under a million units produced, it's a rare find in everyday change.
According to Kandiah, the coin's value ranges from $40 in its worst condition to $110 in mint condition.
However, Kandiah noted that such discoveries have become increasingly rare as the use of cash dwindles in the digital age.
'It’s very unlikely to find one in your change, but it’s still a great moment when you do find it—it’s insane.'
The Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock reported that cash transactions fell 70 per cent between 2007 and 2022, with cash now involved in just 13 per cent of all transactions in Australia.
'The coins and the banknotes that we have now last a lot longer than they used to—if there's less cash turning over, then the ability for someone to find a rare coin becomes a lot harder,' Kandiah explained.
The shift towards digital transactions has had a significant impact on coin collecting, a hobby that Kandiah has pursued for about 29 years now.
The slow turnover of cash and the increasing difficulty of 'noodling'—the practice of withdrawing large amounts of coins from a bank or change machine to sift through one by one—have made it harder to find rare coins at face value.
'I’ve gone through $50,000 to $60,000 worth of coins (noodling) in the last few years,' Kandiah said.
However, he added that banks are now 'clamping down' on the activity, with some, like the Commonwealth Bank, restricting their change machines to business customers only.
'Banks are reluctant to do it, but if you give a bank enough time and put in an order, they’re usually more than happy to.'
Despite these challenges, Kandiah remains passionate about his hobby and encourages others to keep using cash to keep rare coins in circulation.
He suggests that supermarkets, petrol stations, and other places with a high turnover of cash are the best places to chance upon rare coins.
Kandiah's most valuable find to date is a $1 coin from the year 2000 with a printing error that left it with a double rim on the heads-side of the coin.
This rare piece is worth $350 in its worst condition and up to $4000 in mint condition.
'I found that one was when I was 18, so 16 years ago, and that was from my change at Kmart,' he recalled.
Members, have you ever found a rare coin in your change? Share your stories in the comments below!
Kandiah's keen eye for currency led him to identify a rare $2 coin among his $9 in change—a coin that could be worth up to a staggering $110.
'I just went through my normal process and made the transaction,' he said.
'Then I turned around, looked at my coins, and just stood there. I just thought you have got to be kidding me.'
'I looked at it and kept shaking my head. It was just this rare moment of joy.'
A numismatist found a rare coin from a quick stop at a petrol station in Perth. Image source: Instagram/@thehistoryof_money.
The coin that caused such a stir was a purple-coloured $2 piece minted in 2013 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
With just under a million units produced, it's a rare find in everyday change.
According to Kandiah, the coin's value ranges from $40 in its worst condition to $110 in mint condition.
However, Kandiah noted that such discoveries have become increasingly rare as the use of cash dwindles in the digital age.
'It’s very unlikely to find one in your change, but it’s still a great moment when you do find it—it’s insane.'
The Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock reported that cash transactions fell 70 per cent between 2007 and 2022, with cash now involved in just 13 per cent of all transactions in Australia.
'The coins and the banknotes that we have now last a lot longer than they used to—if there's less cash turning over, then the ability for someone to find a rare coin becomes a lot harder,' Kandiah explained.
The shift towards digital transactions has had a significant impact on coin collecting, a hobby that Kandiah has pursued for about 29 years now.
The slow turnover of cash and the increasing difficulty of 'noodling'—the practice of withdrawing large amounts of coins from a bank or change machine to sift through one by one—have made it harder to find rare coins at face value.
'I’ve gone through $50,000 to $60,000 worth of coins (noodling) in the last few years,' Kandiah said.
However, he added that banks are now 'clamping down' on the activity, with some, like the Commonwealth Bank, restricting their change machines to business customers only.
'Banks are reluctant to do it, but if you give a bank enough time and put in an order, they’re usually more than happy to.'
Despite these challenges, Kandiah remains passionate about his hobby and encourages others to keep using cash to keep rare coins in circulation.
He suggests that supermarkets, petrol stations, and other places with a high turnover of cash are the best places to chance upon rare coins.
Kandiah's most valuable find to date is a $1 coin from the year 2000 with a printing error that left it with a double rim on the heads-side of the coin.
This rare piece is worth $350 in its worst condition and up to $4000 in mint condition.
'I found that one was when I was 18, so 16 years ago, and that was from my change at Kmart,' he recalled.
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though probably put it back into circulation 
