High Grade Australian Pennies & Other Collectables

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AUSTRALIA :

Purchases within Australia will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $10.00 and will be sent by Registered Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense.

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

OVERSEAS :

Overseas purchases will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $35.00 and will be sent by standard International Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

If we are unsure of the bona fides of a successful bidder we may request identification such as a Passport Photo or Drivers's Licence that matches the Credit Card details registered with Invaluable before we despatch an item.

Both Australian and International packages are traceable in transit and may require a signature on delivery.

Welcome to Smalls Auctions Sale 171 It is the current trend in coin collecting in Australia and indeed across the World to compete against others for the finest known set in a coin series, which ironically is adjudged by the American third-party grading services. This can be a dispassionate exercise as collectors buy ‘entombed’ coins for record prices in Auction solely on the ‘number’ on the holder assigned by PCGS or NGC and, with little regard for how the coin sits in their collection. PCGS devotees will quite often pass up on superior coins in NGC holders because they want all their coins in the same style holders and vice versa. They no longer have the ‘eye’ to pick a ‘good coin and have outsourced the passionate art of coin grading to overseas graders. Having dealt in coins since the mid-1970s it bemuses me the prices that are paid at Auction for extremely common George VI and Elizabeth II coins but especially the copper pennies and halfpennies just because they make a ‘Red’ holder. Having seen rolls of these coins through the years it seems improbable to me that coins for which thousands have been outlaid can hold their value long term. It only takes a mint roll or two of a common date to be sent off for grading for your sole finest known to be bettered or to become one of perhaps a dozen equal finest known. However, against this, coins that have traditionally been graded ‘Red’ in local markets i.e., as near as possible to original mint bloom are often relegated to the hotch potch that is the ‘Red & Brown’ category by the alien graders. Back in 2015 I wrote in the Benchmark Coin Catalogue that perhaps to overcome the very real problems associated with grading copper coins, the third-party services should consider adding a number to the established categories i.e., BN-1 through to BN-4, RB-5 to RB-8 and RD-9 and RD-10 which would better indicate where the colour of an individual coin sits on a graduated scale. This could satisfy international sensibilities and, in the Australian context, many coins that have been traditionally regarded as 'Red' could still rate as an 'RD-9' rather than being grouped ingloriously with an 'RB-5'. The difference as they say is like 'chalk and cheese'. This adjustment, like the '+' that has been added to existing MS grades to capture eye appeal, seems an obvious refinement to the grading criteria and could allay a lot of criticism. So, it is not very often that you get to offer a ‘raw’ Australia Penny Collection many decades in the making. The coins were carefully assembled by Niel McDonald a retired ‘Gentleman Farmer’ from Baradine who I first encountered at the Auctions conducted by Sydney dealer M.R. Roberts back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The coins are a full run of the basic dates including the ‘king’ of Australian coins the iconic 1930 Penny. Niel is also a keen variety collector so I would expect that we will see some of his varieties emerge in upcoming sales. We have classified the coins in line with Benchmark Coin Catalogue listings. If you are unfamiliar with this catalogue, you can download it as a free App in the Apple store. Just search for Australia Coin Values. It is also available on the internet under benchmarkcoincatalogue.com. For serious collectors of the Australian Pre-decimal coin series, it will prove an informative read. Most of the coins in the collection are in Choice Uncirculated condition so the equivalent of an MS63 grade or better. Coins we have graded as near Gem we believe warrant an MS64 holder while coins we have tagged as Gem are the equivalent of at least an MS65. Although, there are no guarantees if you are intending to ‘mummify’ your purchases because anyone who has dealt with the grading services will attest that it sometimes comes down to the mood of the third-party graders or whether they were ‘out on the tiles’ the night before. Grading is always going to be subjective no matter how hard they market objectivity. As an interesting aside, on the weekend I watched two 1930 Pennies come up for sale at Auction. The first was PCGS graded XF40 or a low end Extremely Fine but I note that the Auction House downgraded it to good Very Fine in its own description. With Buyers premium this coin sold for $43,310. The second coin which was not in a third-party holder was graded by the Auction House as Very Fine/good Very Fine and based on the internet pictures it looked the better coin. It sold for $37,210 all up. It too would likely make it into a PCGS XF40 holder as would Niel’s coin I suspect. What a difference a piece of plastic makes! Other coins of special note in Niel’s collection are the 1914 and 1915H pennies as well as the 1947 Y. Penny. The 1914 Penny is as fresh as they come whilst the 1915H is the usual Heaton Mint strike for that year which lacks sharpness but is nonetheless Choice Uncirculated. The 1947 Y. Penny is also a typical Perth Mint strike and is as good as any of this date that I have seen. But for those who have a penchant for paying extraordinary prices for late date George Vi and Elizabeth dates maybe take a punt on Niel’s coins as you might get an unexpected surprise. Happy Bidding Smalls Auctions.

Buyer's Premium
$0-99: 20.0%
$100-499: 20.0%
$500-999: 20.0%
$1,000-4,999: 20.0%
$5,000+: 20.0%

Conditions of Sale

VAT and taxes: The Buyer's Premium is inclusive of the Australian G(oods) & S(ervices T(ax) incurred by our service.

Shipping Terms: AUSTRALIA :

Purchases within Australia will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $10.00 and will be sent by Registered Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense.

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

OVERSEAS :

Overseas purchases will be charged a MINIMUM SHIPPING FEE of $35.00 and will be sent by standard International Post.

Additional insurance is optional at the buyer's expense

Larger lots may incur an additional charge.

If we are unsure of the bona fides of a successful bidder we may request identification such as a Passport Photo or Drivers's Licence that matches the Credit Card details registered with Invaluable before we despatch an item.

Both Australian and International packages are traceable in transit and may require a signature on delivery.

Buyers Premium: All purchases are subject to an all inclusive 20.0 % Buyer's Premium on the hammer price.

Tax Details: Taxes, Duties and Customs Charges that apply in the country of delivery are the express responsibility of the buyer.

Please notify us if you require a specific description on the outside of the package for customs purposes.