Rare ChangeAU

RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 04 · 1D · 1925 · MELBOURNE MINT

1925 penny, and what it's worth

The Australian King George V penny dated 1925 on the reverse, a low-mintage date struck at the Melbourne Mint with the London obverse.

Typical sale · Very Finen = 28

A genuine one, lightly worn

$140

Middle half of sales $118 to $270. Lowest $90, highest $400.

Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 56 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2016 to 2026. Updated 30 Oct 2026.

Prices by condition

AUD

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

WornFine · 18 sales

$100

Lightly wornVery Fine · 28 sales

$140

Barely wornExtremely Fine · 10 sales

$1,200

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 Worn Noble $90
13 Apr 2026 Lightly worn Noble $120
13 Apr 2026 Lightly worn Noble $140
28 Jul 2025 Worn Noble $180
28 Jul 2025 Worn Noble $120
28 Jul 2025 Worn Noble $100

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 AUSTRALIAONEPENNY1925A

  1. Does the date read 1925, with digits in the same style as the date on other George V pennies?

    Reverse, the date at the bottom
    YES
    A clear 1925 under the ring of beads, its digits shaped and spaced like those on common George V pennies.
    NO
    Another date, or digits that look different in shape, thickness or spacing from other pennies of the period.

  2. Does the last upright stroke of the N in OMN point into the gap between two rim beads?

    Obverse (King's side), the letter N in OMN and the rim beads just outside it
    YES
    The N's final stroke points between beads: the London obverse, the only die known on 1925 pennies.
    NO
    The N's final stroke lines up with a bead (Indian obverse). No genuine 1925 with this obverse has been seen.
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Record

Face value
1d
Year
1925
Mint
Melbourne Mint
  • All 1925-dated pennies were struck at the Melbourne Mint. [2][3]
  • The 1925 is one of the scarcest Australian pennies. [2][3]
  • The 1925 penny was struck with the London obverse die. [2][5]
  • The obverse portrait of George V is by Bertram Mackennal. [3][1]
  • A penny of this period weighs 9.45 g. [1][5]

Questions

How much is a 1925 penny worth?

A genuine 1925 penny in lightly worn condition (Very Fine) has typically sold for $140 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $118 and $270. Better-preserved examples sell for more.

How do I know if my 1925 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. Sterling & Currency: 1925 Penny - One of Australia's Most Desirable Copper Coins, read 29 Oct 2026
  3. Downies: 1925 Penny Fine, read 29 Oct 2026
  4. Drake Sterling: Indian and London (English) penny obverses, read 29 Oct 2026
  5. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1925 Penny, read 29 Oct 2026