RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 09 · ½D · 1923 · MELBOURNE MINT
1923 halfpenny, and what it's worth
The Australian King George V halfpenny dated 1923 on the reverse, struck in small numbers at the Melbourne Mint and the key date of the halfpenny series.
A genuine one, worn
$620
Middle half of sales $550 to $700. Lowest $240, highest $1,500.
Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 186 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2016 to 2026. Updated 30 Oct 2026.
Prices by condition
AUDWorn coins sell for less. Find the row that looks most like yours.
Heavily wornGood to Very Good · 18 sales
$500
WornFine · 104 sales
$620
Lightly wornVery Fine · 53 sales
$1,000
Barely wornExtremely Fine · 11 sales
$3,900
Line: lowest to highest sale. Box: the middle half of sales. Dot: the median, half sold for more and half for less.
Recent sales
HammerHow to check yours
Each letter on the drawing marks where to look. A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom helps.
-
Check A: Is the final 3 full-bodied, with its middle join sloping downward?
Reverse, the last digit of the date- YES
- A well-formed 3 whose centre point tilts down, as on genuine 1923 halfpennies.
- NO
- A thin 3 with a straight, flat middle, or traces of a cut-away 8. The usual fake is a 1928 with part of the 8 removed.
-
Check B: Do the legend letters have straight, flat bases?
Reverse, the bottoms of the letters in COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, and the third digit of the date- YES
- Flat-based letters, as on genuine 1923 halfpennies.
- NO
- Letters with clearly curved bases, as on 1933 halfpennies, which forgers turn into a 1923 by changing the first 3 to a 2.
-
Check C: Are there fine raised lines (die cracks) running through or between the letters of the legend?
Obverse (King's side), the legend lettering around the rim- YES
- Thin raised cracks across the legend, which most genuine 1923 halfpennies show because the dies broke down quickly.
- NO
- A clean legend with no cracks. Some early genuine strikes lack them, so this alone does not mean the coin is fake.
The free photo checker is on its way.
Record
- Face value
- ½d
- Year
- 1923
- Mint
- Melbourne Mint
- The Melbourne Mint was asked for halfpennies in July 1923 and prepared three pairs of dies in September; one pair went straight back to the workshop and the others failed early, so few coins were struck. [1][4]
- The 1923 is one of the scarcest dates in the Australian halfpenny series. [2][4]
- The halfpenny weighs 5.67 g and is 25.5 mm across. [1][4]
- The George V portrait is by Bertram Mackennal and the lettered reverse is by W. H. J. Blakemore. [1][4]
- Forgers commonly alter the dates of cheaper halfpennies to make a 1923. [4][3]
Questions
How much is a 1923 halfpenny worth?
A genuine 1923 halfpenny in worn condition (Fine) has typically sold for $620 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $550 and $700. Better-preserved examples sell for more.
How do I know if my 1923 halfpenny is genuine?
Work through the checks above. They cover what genuine examples show and what altered or different versions don't. A photo can't prove a coin or note is genuine, so for a valuable find, ask a professional numismatist or a grading service before you sell.
Should I clean it?
No. Cleaning leaves fine scratches that collectors spot at once, and cleaned coins and notes sell for much less. Keep it as it is, in a paper envelope or a coin holder.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from at least two independent sources. Prices come from our own record of auction results.
- Halfpenny (Australian coin), read 29 Oct 2026
- Downies: 1923 Halfpenny Very Fine, read 29 Oct 2026
- Sterling & Currency: 1925 Penny - One of Australia's Most Desirable Copper Coins, read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1923 Halfpenny, read 29 Oct 2026