These rare coins could be worth up to $4000
If you have some strange-looking loose changes, do not use them just yet – collectors are eyeing for coins with imperfections that could earn them thousands of dollars.
Some coins from the Royal Australian Mint have subtle errors that often go unnoticed, said Matthew Thompson from Town Hall Coins and Collectables.
A 5c piece from 2007 that was incorrectly made with the Queen’s head on both sides was sold for $3,000.
Thompson said he himself had sold a double-headed coin for $3,500.
“That one was in top end condition and so was worth thousands. One in really poor condition, you’d still be looking at a few hundred for,” Thompson told Daily Mail.
Thompson said while most people do not check their coins, he and some others inspect every coin in a process called ‘noodling’.
“I’ve done it before if I’ve a bag of coins or change jars. If you just spend a bit of time going through them it can certainly pay off,” he said.
“People don’t expect institutions like the Mint to make mistakes.
“But from time to time things can go awry. If you see mistakes on a coin, if you have something interesting, odd or out of place, then other people are likely to find it interesting, too - that’s why people collect.”
Thompson said a $1 piece in 2000 was stamped with the head from a 10c piece, creating a double-ring effect. “If you see two rings on your dollar coin, it could be worth a few hundred or up to $4000 in really good condition.”
Source: Facebook / Detecting Downunder
An error that is reportedly more common on $1 coins is the ‘rabbit ears’ on one of the kangaroos, which can bring the piece’s worth up to $30.
Source: Facebook / Detecting Downunder