These 'normal' 50-cent coins caught collectors' attention. Why?
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In the fascinating world of numismatics, collectors eagerly seek out the rare and unusual.
Yet, the most ordinary-looking coins could sometimes hide extraordinary value.
For those who may have lived through decades of currency changes and saw coins come and go, an exciting opportunity could be lurking in your old coin jars.
A 50-cent coin has been causing quite a stir among collectors.
While ordinary-looking, this coin could be worth up to 80 times its face value.
The coin in question is the 1985 Australian 50-cent coin, which numismatist Michael McCauley recently called a potential goldmine.
The reason behind the coin's value spike is its low mintage.
In 1985, the Royal Australian Mint only released one million coins—a low count compared to millions of 50-cent coins typically minted in other years.
This scarcity made the 1985 50c coin particularly desirable to collectors, with recent listings ranging from $15 to $40 each.
Some eBay listings even reach between $35 and $60.
What makes this coin even more special is its design.
It featured the second effigy of the late Queen Elizabeth II, crafted by British sculptor Raphael Maklouf.
It also has the Commonwealth Coat of Arms relief on the obverse, sculpted by Stuart Devlin.
This design combination and rarity elevated the 1985 50c coin to a status that's worth more than even the antiquated round 50-cent coins.
Interestingly, no 50-cent coins were produced between 1985 and 1988, as the Royal Australian Mint only makes coins based on banks' forecasted demand.
It wasn't until 1993 that another batch of one million 50-cent coins were minted, also making those coins valuable.
Coin expert Joel Kandiah referred to the 1985 50-cent coin as Australia's 'joint rarest 50c coin' due to its low mintage.
McCauley also stated that the 1985 coins are harder to find.
This is either due to damage or has likely been removed from circulation for collections.
Damaged coins are typically sent back to the Mint for destruction, further reducing the coins available to collectors.
It might be time to dig through your collections or old coin jars.
You might just have one of these rare coins sitting unnoticed.
Before selling any potential treasure, have it appraised by a reputable coin dealer or numismatist for a fair assessment.
Have you discovered any valuable coins or items in your possession before? Share your stories and finds with us in the comments below!
Yet, the most ordinary-looking coins could sometimes hide extraordinary value.
For those who may have lived through decades of currency changes and saw coins come and go, an exciting opportunity could be lurking in your old coin jars.
A 50-cent coin has been causing quite a stir among collectors.
While ordinary-looking, this coin could be worth up to 80 times its face value.
The coin in question is the 1985 Australian 50-cent coin, which numismatist Michael McCauley recently called a potential goldmine.
The 1985 50-cent coin rose in value due to its rarity. Image Credits: eBay
The reason behind the coin's value spike is its low mintage.
In 1985, the Royal Australian Mint only released one million coins—a low count compared to millions of 50-cent coins typically minted in other years.
This scarcity made the 1985 50c coin particularly desirable to collectors, with recent listings ranging from $15 to $40 each.
Some eBay listings even reach between $35 and $60.
What makes this coin even more special is its design.
It featured the second effigy of the late Queen Elizabeth II, crafted by British sculptor Raphael Maklouf.
It also has the Commonwealth Coat of Arms relief on the obverse, sculpted by Stuart Devlin.
This design combination and rarity elevated the 1985 50c coin to a status that's worth more than even the antiquated round 50-cent coins.
Interestingly, no 50-cent coins were produced between 1985 and 1988, as the Royal Australian Mint only makes coins based on banks' forecasted demand.
It wasn't until 1993 that another batch of one million 50-cent coins were minted, also making those coins valuable.
Coin expert Joel Kandiah referred to the 1985 50-cent coin as Australia's 'joint rarest 50c coin' due to its low mintage.
McCauley also stated that the 1985 coins are harder to find.
This is either due to damage or has likely been removed from circulation for collections.
Damaged coins are typically sent back to the Mint for destruction, further reducing the coins available to collectors.
It might be time to dig through your collections or old coin jars.
You might just have one of these rare coins sitting unnoticed.
Before selling any potential treasure, have it appraised by a reputable coin dealer or numismatist for a fair assessment.
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