Rare and Valuable Australian One Dollar Coins
Australia's 1 dollar coin was introduced by The Royal Australian Mint in 1984 after the paper $1 banknote was removed from circulation. The famous "Mob of roos" reverse seen on the dollar coin was designed by Stuart Devlin.
The $1 coin in Australia is popular with collectors, especially with those that enjoy going through circulating coins looking for different designs and varieties. The first coloured reverse design on a one dollar coin commenced in 2002 with the Year of the Outback proof.
Although there are not many truly rare one dollar coins from Australia, the 2000 "mule" dollar is the most valuable $1 coin from Australia.
It has become one of the most widely known collectible decimal coins with regular exposure in the media.
Several of these rare coins have sold for more than $10,000 when in mint condition, realistically though you're not likely to find one if you search through a heap of coin operated machines.
One question we are often asked by people that call our office is "Are Australian $1 Coins Worth Money?", click the link to read our article and learn more.
Questions We Get Asked About Australian One Dollar Coins All The Time
What Are One Dollar Coins Made Of?
Australian one dollar coins are made from 92% copper, 6% aluminium, and 2% nickel. They were first introduced on May 14, 1984, to replace the one dollar note, which wore out quickly due to frequent use. The coin features a design of five kangaroos on the reverse, created by Stuart Devlin, and is circular in shape with an interrupted milled edge. It weighs 9 grams and has a diameter of 25 millimeters.
When Did The One Dollar Coin Come Out?
The Australian one-dollar coin was introduced on May 14, 1984, replacing the one-dollar note.. Designed by Stuart Devlin, it quickly became a staple of everyday transactions, featuring his iconic depiction of five bounding kangaroos.
How Many One Dollar Coins Are There?
Australian one dollar coins have been minted in billions since they were first introduced in 1984. The exact number is always changing as coins are taken out of circulation or recycled. In the first year, over 186 million coins were produced to replace the one dollar note, which was wearing out quickly. Since then, millions more have been made each year for both everyday use and special commemorative issues.
The Royal Australian Mint continues to produce millions of one dollar coins annually, with notable commemorative coins like the Donation Dollar. These special coins are popular among collectors and add to the overall number in circulation.
Key Mintage Figures:
- Highest production year: 1984, with 186.3 million coins minted.
- Lowest production year: 1992, when no one-dollar coins were made for circulation.
Over the years, the Royal Australian Mint has produced both the standard kangaroo design and a variety of commemorative issues marking historical events and milestones.
Are One Dollar Coins Rare?
In 2000, the Royal Australian Mint produced about 7.6 million one dollar coins. However, only a tiny fraction of these are considered rare. The standout is the 2000 one dollar mule, an error coin created when the wrong dies were used, resulting in a heavier rim on the obverse (heads) side. It's estimated that only around 6,000 of these mule coins were made, which is less than 0.1% of the total coins minted that year. This rarity makes the 2000 one dollar mule highly prized by collectors, with values ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.
How Do I Clean My One Dollar Coins?
If you are deliberating cleaning any coins in your collection, accumulated from the depths of your wallet or from a lifelong collection - we are here to help. Read our article on coin cleaning to see how to you can maintain your collection's value here.