RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 02 · 1D · 1920 · MELBOURNE MINT
1920 penny, and what it's worth
The Australian King George V penny dated 1920 on the reverse, in any of its Indian or London obverse and dot varieties.
A genuine one, worn
$90
Middle half of sales $80 to $140. Lowest $30, highest $200.
Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 29 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2016 to 2025. 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 · 3 sales
Too few sales for a fair price
WornFine · 9 sales
$90
Lightly wornVery Fine · 6 sales
$160
Barely wornExtremely Fine · 5 sales
$480
Never usedUncirculated · 6 sales
$1,075
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: Does the last upright stroke of the N in OMN point straight at a rim bead?
Obverse (King's side), the letter N in OMN in the legend and the beads around the rim just outside it- YES
- The final stroke of the N lines up with a bead. This is the Indian (Calcutta) obverse die, which has 178 rim beads.
- NO
- The final stroke of the N points into the gap between two beads. This is the London (English) obverse die, which has 177 rim beads. Benchmark notes the London obverse is the scarcer die on 1920 pennies.
-
Check B: Is there a tiny dot just below the lower scroll?
Reverse, just under the scroll beneath PENNY- YES
- A small round dot sits under the lower scroll. Benchmark gives this mark to the Melbourne Mint's main 1920 issue.
- NO
- Nothing under the lower scroll.
-
Check C: Is there a tiny dot just above the lower scroll, between it and PENNY?
Reverse, in the small gap between the word PENNY and the scroll under it- YES
- A small dot sits above the lower scroll, under PENNY. Benchmark gives this mark to Sydney; paired with the London obverse it is listed as extremely rare.
- NO
- No dot between PENNY and the lower scroll.
-
Check D: Is there a tiny dot above the upper scroll?
Reverse, just over the scroll above ONE- YES
- A small dot sits over the upper scroll, either alone or with a second dot under the lower scroll.
- NO
- Nothing above the upper scroll.
The free photo checker is on its way.
Record
- Face value
- 1d
- Year
- 1920
- Mints
- Melbourne Mint, Sydney Mint
Questions
How much is a 1920 penny worth?
A genuine 1920 penny in worn condition (Fine) has typically sold for $90 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $80 and $140. Better-preserved examples sell for more.
How do I know if my 1920 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.
- Penny (Australian coin), read 29 Oct 2026
- Drake Sterling: Indian and London (English) penny obverses, read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1920 (M) //. Penny (English Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1920 (M) //. Penny (Indian Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1920 (S) .//. Penny (Indian Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1920 (S) /./ Penny (English Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1920 (S) /./ Penny (Indian Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1920 (P?) .// Penny (Indian Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026