Rare ChangeAU

RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 03 · 1D · 1921 · MELBOURNE MINT

1921 penny, and what it's worth

The Australian King George V penny dated 1921 on the reverse, with either the Indian or the scarcer London obverse.

Typical sale · Extremely Finen = 7

A genuine one, barely worn

$150

Middle half of sales $120 to $185. Lowest $80, highest $420.

Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 11 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2017 to 2025. Updated 30 Oct 2026.

Prices by condition

AUD

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

Heavily wornGood to Very Good · 1 sale

Too few sales for a fair price

Lightly wornVery Fine · 1 sale

Too few sales for a fair price

Barely wornExtremely Fine · 7 sales

$150

Never usedUncirculated · 2 sales

Too few sales for a fair price

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
25 Nov 2025 Barely worn Noble $110
27 Mar 2023 Barely worn Noble $420
26 Jul 2022 Never used Noble $220
23 Nov 2021 Barely worn Noble $80
28 Jul 2020 Never used Noble $1,400
20 Nov 2018 Lightly worn Noble $80

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:B
Back
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIAONEPENNY1921A

  1. Does the date at the bottom of the reverse read 1921?

    Reverse, the date at the bottom
    YES
    The four digits 1921 sit under the ring of beads, below the scroll.
    NO
    The date shows another year.

  2. 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 lists the London obverse 1921 as the scarcer type, possibly struck at Perth.
Check mine from a photo

The free photo checker is on its way.

Record

Face value
1d
Year
1921
Mint
Melbourne Mint
  • The George V portrait is by Bertram Mackennal and the lettered reverse design is by W. H. J. Blakemore. [1][4]
  • A penny of this period weighs 9.45 g. [1][4]

Questions

How much is a 1921 penny worth?

A genuine 1921 penny in barely worn condition (Extremely Fine) has typically sold for $150 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $120 and $185. Better-preserved examples sell for more.

How do I know if my 1921 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. Drake Sterling: Indian and London (English) penny obverses, read 29 Oct 2026
  3. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1921 (P?) Penny (English Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026
  4. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1921 (M) Penny (Indian Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026