Rare ChangeAU

RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 05 · 1D · 1930 · MELBOURNE MINT

1930 penny, and what it's worth

The Australian King George V penny dated 1930 on the reverse, the circulation strike made only in small trial runs at the Melbourne Mint (not the proof).

Typical sale · Finen = 36

A genuine one, worn

$16,000

Middle half of sales $13,875 to $17,500. Lowest $8,000, highest $22,000.

Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 61 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.

Heavily wornGood to Very Good · 5 sales

$14,000

WornFine · 36 sales

$16,000

Lightly wornVery Fine · 20 sales

$19,500

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
28 Jul 2026 Worn Noble $14,000
28 Jul 2026 Worn Noble $16,500
13 Apr 2026 Heavily worn Noble $15,500
13 Apr 2026 Lightly worn Noble $20,000
28 Jul 2025 Lightly worn Noble $9,500
28 Jul 2025 Worn Noble $13,500

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:E
Back
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIAONEPENNY1930DBCA

  1. Is the final 0 of 1930 broad and full, rather than tall and narrow?

    Reverse, the last digit of the date
    YES
    A wide, rounded 0 that looks fat next to the 9 and 3.
    NO
    A slim, stretched or oval 0, which is typical of forgeries.

  2. Is there any change of colour, scratching, tool marks or a dent around the date?

    Reverse, the date and the field and beads around it
    YES
    A patch of different colour or texture, scratches, or marks around the last digit. Altered 1930s are usually made from a 1931 to 1936 penny, most often 1933, with the last digit replaced by a 0.
    NO
    Even colour and surface across the date, matching the rest of the coin.

  3. Do the letters A and L of AUSTRALIA line up with rim beads, while the final I and A sit between beads?

    Reverse, the word AUSTRALIA in the legend and the rim beads just outside it
    YES
    A and L point at beads and I and A point at gaps, which matches the only reverse die seen on genuine 1930 pennies.
    NO
    A different pattern of letters to beads, which points to a reverse from another year with an altered date.

  4. Do the letters have strongly curved, flared bases, with a decorative foot on the L of AUSTRALIA?

    Reverse, the bottoms of the letters in COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, especially the L
    YES
    Letter bases curve outward and the L has a stylised foot, as on genuine 1930 pennies.
    NO
    Flat-footed letters, as on the 1933 penny reverse that is the most common source of altered 1930s.

  5. 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. Almost no genuine 1930 pennies have this die, so a London obverse 1930 needs independent authentication.
Check mine from a photo

The free photo checker is on its way.

Record

Face value
1d
Year
1930
Mint
Melbourne Mint
  • With the Depression under way, the Melbourne Mint struck no 1930 pennies for circulation; the known coins are thought to come from trial use of the 1930 dies. [2][6]
  • The number struck is only an estimate, put at no more than about 2,000. [2][6]
  • The coins are thought to have gone out along with ordinary pennies, and collectors first noticed them in the 1940s. [2][6]
  • Nearly every genuine 1930 penny has the Indian obverse; only a handful with the London obverse are known. [1][3][5]
  • The obverse portrait of George V is by Bertram Mackennal. [2][6]

Questions

How much is a 1930 penny worth?

A genuine 1930 penny in worn condition (Fine) has typically sold for $16,000 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $13,875 and $17,500. Better-preserved examples sell for more.

How do I know if my 1930 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. The Perth Mint: How to detect a forged 1930 penny, read 29 Oct 2026
  2. The Perth Mint: Everything you need to know about Australia's 1930 penny, read 29 Oct 2026
  3. Sterling & Currency: 1930 Penny - Australia's Best Known Rare Coin, read 29 Oct 2026
  4. Drake Sterling: Indian and London (English) penny obverses, read 29 Oct 2026
  5. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1930 Penny (English Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026
  6. Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1930 Penny (Indian Obverse), read 29 Oct 2026