Rare ChangeAU

RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 01 · 1D · 1919 · MELBOURNE MINT

1919 penny, and what it's worth

The Australian King George V penny dated 1919 on the reverse, in any of its forms: no dot, a dot below the lower scroll, or dots above the upper scroll and below the lower scroll.

Typical sale · Uncirculatedn = 10

A genuine one, never used

$320

Middle half of sales $280 to $430. Lowest $120, highest $700.

Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 16 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2017 to 2026. Updated 30 Oct 2026.

Prices by condition

AUD

Worn coins sell for less. Find the row that looks most like yours.

WornFine · 1 sale

Too few sales for a fair price

Lightly wornVery Fine · 2 sales

Too few sales for a fair price

Barely wornExtremely Fine · 3 sales

Too few sales for a fair price

Never usedUncirculated · 10 sales

$320

Line: lowest to highest sale. Box: the middle half of sales. Dot: the median, half sold for more and half for less.

Recent sales

Hammer
DateConditionAuctionPrice
13 Apr 2026 Never used Noble $280
28 Jul 2025 Never used Noble $440
25 Nov 2024 Lightly worn Noble $1,700
27 Mar 2023 Never used Noble $120
27 Mar 2023 Barely worn Noble $200
22 Nov 2022 Never used Noble $280

How to check yours

Each letter on the drawing marks where to look. A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom helps.

Front (head side)
GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP:
Back
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIAONEPENNY1919CAB

  1. Are both scrolls free of any small raised dot above or below them?

    Reverse, the small scrolls above ONE and below PENNY
    YES
    No dot anywhere near either scroll. Benchmark lists this plain type as struck at Melbourne on London-made dies.
    NO
    One or two tiny round dots sit next to the scrolls.

  2. Is there a single tiny dot just below the lower scroll, and none above the upper scroll?

    Reverse, just under the scroll beneath PENNY
    YES
    One small round dot sits under the lower scroll; the upper scroll has no dot.
    NO
    No dot under the lower scroll, or there is also a dot above the upper scroll.

  3. Is there a dot above the upper scroll as well as a dot below the lower scroll?

    Reverse, above the scroll over ONE and below the scroll under PENNY
    YES
    Two tiny dots: one over the upper scroll and one under the lower scroll. Benchmark attributes this scarcer type to the Sydney Mint.
    NO
    Only one dot, or no dots at all.
Check mine from a photo

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Record

Face value
1d
Year
1919
Mints
Melbourne Mint, Sydney Mint
  • The recorded 1919 penny mintage is 5,810,160. [1][2]
  • The George V portrait is by Bertram Mackennal and the lettered reverse design is by W. H. J. Blakemore. [1][2]
  • A penny of this period weighs 9.45 g. [1][2]

Questions

How much is a 1919 penny worth?

A genuine 1919 penny in never used condition (Uncirculated) has typically sold for $320 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $280 and $430. Better-preserved examples sell for more.

How do I know if my 1919 penny 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.

  1. Penny (Australian coin), read 29 Oct 2026
  2. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1919 (M) Penny, read 29 Oct 2026
  3. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1919 (M) //. Penny, read 29 Oct 2026
  4. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1919 (S) .//. Penny, read 29 Oct 2026