RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 07 · 1D · 1938 · MELBOURNE MINT
1938 penny, and what it's worth
The Australian King George VI penny dated 1938, the first year of the kangaroo reverse, with the date under the kangaroo's tail.
A genuine one, never used
$78
Middle half of sales $64 to $88. Lowest $50, highest $130.
Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 7 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2018 to 2024. Updated 30 Oct 2026.
Prices by condition
AUDWorn coins sell for less. Find the row that looks most like yours.
Barely wornExtremely Fine · 1 sale
Too few sales for a fair price
Never usedUncirculated · 6 sales
$78
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 date under the kangaroo's tail read 1938?
Reverse, under the kangaroo's tail- YES
- The digits 1938 sit below the tail, above the word PENNY.
- NO
- Another year under the tail.
-
Check B: Is there a small dot in any of those three places?
Reverse, after the word PENNY, after AUSTRALIA, and between the K and G above the tail- YES
- A small dot after PENNY, after AUSTRALIA or between K and G, the marks used on Perth-struck George VI pennies.
- NO
- No dot in any of those places, as on Melbourne pennies, which is where Benchmark lists all 1938 pennies as struck.
The free photo checker is on its way.
Record
- Face value
- 1d
- Year
- 1938
- Mint
- Melbourne Mint
Questions
How much is a 1938 penny worth?
A genuine 1938 penny in never used condition (Uncirculated) has typically sold for $78 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $64 and $88. Better-preserved examples sell for more.
How do I know if my 1938 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
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1938 Penny, read 29 Oct 2026