Rarities June 2015 Catalogue

June 2015
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Immensely rare – the 1813 Holey Dollar...
One of Australia’s highest profile rarities,
the 1813 NSW Holey Dollar is sought
after by collector and investor alike.
Known by less than 300 examples, this
extremely rare 200+ year-old coin is
seldom seen on the market. Indeed,
this is the first offered by Downies in
the best part of a decade!
This particular 1813 Holey Dollar was
struck on a Charles IV 8 Reales from
Potosi in Spanish Bolivia. A rare type, with
less than 10% of the known 300 Holey
Dollar host coins struck at Potosi, this
lightly toned example is graded Fine, with
very clear countermarks.
With many years having passed since we
last offered this rare, highly prized piece
of early Australiana, the single 1813 Holey
Dollar we have in stock will be snapped
up at speed.
1813 NSW HOLEY DOLLAR FINE
$
77,500
12060
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First Sovereign date in near flawless condition
Australia’s very first Gold
Sovereign date, struck at
the nation’s very first official
Mint, the 1855 Sydney Mint
Sovereign is extremely rare.
Highly desirable, irrespective
of the grade, the chance to
own this iconic Gold Rush
coin in the upper echelons
of quality represents an
irresistible opportunity for one
of our clients to join the elite
of Australian numismatics.
Struck directly as a result of
the 1850s Gold Rushes, the
1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign
is distinguished by the famous
‘wreath’ motif, with the words
‘Australia’, ‘Sydney Mint’
and ‘One Sovereign’ proudly
emblazoned upon the reverse.
Also bearing the two-yearonly
obverse portrait of Queen
Victoria, the mintage of the
1855 date concluded at
just 502,000.
Apart from the number
that saw heavy circulation
during the boom days of
the Australian Gold Rush,
a huge percentage of
1855 Sovereigns have
been destroyed for the
gold or simply lost over
the 160 years since struck.
Thus, only the tiniest
percentage of the original
1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign
mintage would be in anything
like the near flawless
condition offered here.
An original, important artefact
of the Australian Gold Rush,
we have only one premium
grade example of the 1855
Sydney Mint Sovereign
Type I available. A glorious
opportunity for the serious
collector or eagle-eyed
investor, the coin in question
is graded at near flawless
about Uncirculated/
Uncirculated quality, and is
excessively rare as such.
1855 SYDNEY MINT
SOVEREIGN TYPE I aUNC/UNC
$
49,500
12061
Ø22.05mm
2

1850s Gold Rush Rarity
A coin born of the 19th
century Australian Gold Rush,
the 1852 Adelaide Pound
Type II is Australia’s first gold
coin – and among its most
desirable. Your chance to
join a privileged group of
collectors, with no more
than 200 Adelaide £1 coins
thought to exist, we can offer
this richly historic Australian
rarity in superb Extremely
Fine quality.
Struck from November
1852 until February 1853,
the 23mm, 8.81g, 22-carat
Adelaide £1 was issued by
South Australian authorities
due to a severe coin shortage
in the colony caused by
the Gold Rush. Thousands
of South Australian men
had flocked to the eastern
goldfields after the discovery
of gold in 1851, taking a huge
amount of hard currency with
them, and the colony was left
starved of labour and on the
cusp of financial ruin.
Authorised by South Australian
Governor Sir Henry Young
without British assent, this
brave, ingenious attempt
to produce desperately
needed local currency was
undermined when the gold
price rose. At one point
containing gold worth nearly
two shillings above face, a
vast majority of the mintage
of 24,000 was melted down
for the intrinsic value. Avoiding
the fiery fate of so many
of its brethren, this coin is
one of approximately
200 examples remaining
in existence.
One of the nation’s most
sought after rarities, at least
tripling in catalogue value
in higher grade over the last
decade and a half, we have
a single example of the 1852
Adelaide £1 available in
detailed, lustrous Extremely
Fine condition.
1852 ADELAIDE POUND
TYPE II EF
$
29,950
AF238
Ø23mm
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To order 1300 788 358

Never before offered by Downies
Known by no more than 20 examples, and
thought to have been struck at the Royal Mint
in London, Downies has never before had the
privilege of presenting this intriguing doublereverse
Australian rarity to our clients.
Featuring Parliament House on one side,
and the Australian Capital Territory’s Coat of
Arms on the other, it has been speculated
that the 50c Canberra Trial Pattern was
under consideration as a commemoration of
Australia’s new Parliament in 1988. Possibly
handed out to dignitaries for assessment,
much like the legendary 1919-21 Square
Pennies featured on page 9, neither design
found on this unusual double-reverse
type was used for a commemorative 50c.
Ultimately, the 1988 50c commemorative
honoured Australia’s bicentenary.
In ‘as struck’, Uncirculated condition, you will
have to act with super speed to become the
proud owner of this captivating, mysterious
Australian rarity.
50c CANBERRA TRIAL PATTERN UNC
1c struck in Aluminium
$
21,000
12063
Ø31.51mm
Extremely
rare – known
by no more
than TWENTY
examples!
The finest of only two known examples, this
fascinating, immensely rare 1978 1c ‘offmetal
variety’ is struck from ALUMINIUM!
One of the major, most intriguing highlights of
your June Rarities, we have one example of
this breathtaking RAM Test Strike available!
Highly desirable and most unusual, the
1c Aluminium Test Strike type taps into
Australia’s rich numismatic history of offmetal
issues. With Mints prone to testing
a variety of materials, Australia’s off-metal
tradition includes a host of celebrated rarities.
Known by four examples, the cupro-nickel
1946 Florin catalogues at $115,000, whilst
the silver 1937 Penny is valued at $170,000
and silver 1959 Penny is valued at $55,000!
A bronze coin struck in white metal, like the
1937 Penny and 1959 Penny, the 1978 1c
Aluminium Test Strike is a key element of
this proud heritage.
In Uncirculated, ‘as struck’ condition, this
exceedingly rare coin will make a unique
addition to the collection of one of our clients.
1978 1c ALUMINIUM TEST STRIKE UNC
$
17,500
12116
Ø17.53mm
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Utterly unique 1988 50c Proof Mule
To become the proud owner
of a coin that is ‘one-ofa-kind’
– literally the only
known example – is the
ultimate collector dream.
Following our acquisition
of this utterly unique Royal
Australian Mint Mule Error
50c type, Downies can turn
that dream into reality for
one of our clients.
In 1988, it was decided
to employ the 50c
denomination to
commemorate the
200th anniversary of
European Settlement. As
is customary, the creation
of a special one-year-only
50c commemorative meant
that the standard Coat of
Arms 50c was not struck
for circulation, and was
naturally not included in the
Proof Set of that year either.
Indeed, no 1988 Coat of
Arms 50c coins should exist,
in either Uncirculated or
Proof quality.
A genuine Mule error,
created through the
accidental union of
mismatched obverse and
reverse dies, the coin before
you is the only known
example of a 1988 Coat
of Arms 50c Proof. An
Uncirculated 1988 Coat
of Arms 50c Mule was
discovered some time ago,
but this is the ONLY example
in Proof. Struck to the
highest quality, with frosted
motifs standing out brilliantly
from shining mirror fields,
we conservatively grade this
unrivalled Australian rarity at
about FDC.
An irresistible opportunity
for the serious decimal
enthusiast to take his or her
collection to unparalleled
heights, this utterly unique
Australian legal tender coin
will be snapped up instantly.
Who knows when it will next
be seen on the market?
1988 50c COA MULE
PROOF aFDC
$
25,000
12115
Ø31.51mm
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‘PL’ Proofs from the Royal Mint
A rare opportunity for one of
our clients, we have secured
a single example of the Royal
Mint’s 1951 Halfpenny &
Penny PL Mintmark Proof
FDC Pair. Limited to a tiny
mintage believed to be no
more than 20, this prestigious
pair is seldom seen on the
market, and has not been
offered by Downies for many,
many years.
Requiring huge amounts of
currency in the post-WWII
boom, Australia recruited
Britain’s Royal Mint to help
with coin production in 1951.
Bearing a mintmark used by
the Romans in Ancient Britain
– PL, Pecunia Londinium,
Money of London – the Royal
Mint struck halfpennies
and pennies for circulation
in Australia. Keeping with
tradition, the Royal Mint also
struck a tiny number of each
coin in Proof.
Before 1955, and the
production of Proof coinage
on a commercial basis,
Australian Proof coins were
struck only as archival pieces,
or as ‘presentation pieces’ for
other Mints, museums and
dignitaries. Thus, as with the
1951 Halfpenny & Penny PL
Mintmark Proof FDC Pair, the
mintages during this period
were extremely small, with
very few Proofs ever reaching
private hands.
Thought to be one of just
twenty 1951 PL Pairs struck
at the Royal Mint, these
particular coins remain
in pristine, choice FDC
condition. An immensely rare,
unquestionably important
part of Australian history,
these coins appear on the
market once every few years
– at best. Don’t miss this
opportunity.
1951 HALFPENNY &
PENNY PL MINTMARK
PROOF FDC PAIR
$
47,500
12322
Ø30.80mm
Ø25.50mm
6

The 1938 Crown Proof – mintage less than 20 coins
The crowning glory of any
collection, and a compelling
addition to a numismatic
portfolio, the 1938 Crown
Proof FDC is extraordinarily
rare. Although the official
mintage was 250, the actual
mintage is thought to be less
than 20!
As a result, the 1938 Crown
Proof is seldom seen on
the market. Indeed, there
have been perhaps as few
as ten offerings of the 1938
Crown Proof in the last 50
years, with this silver Proof
offered only twice by Downies
Australian Coin Auctions since
established
in 1963.
In flawless FDC quality, how
long will it be before this
illustrious rarity appears on
the market again?
1938 CROWN PROOF FDC $ 69,500
12323
Ø38.50mm
1937 Crown Proof – just 100 coins struck!
With only 100 struck, the 1937
Crown Proof FDC is a rarity of
world standing – desired by
many, but available only to the
privileged few.
Although the mintage figure is
tiny, the number still in
existence is much less than
100. The number of examples
remaining in perfect FDC
quality is infinitesimal.
Our largest and highest
denomination predecimal coin,
issued to celebrate the
George VI Coronation, the
silver Proof offered here is in
an absolutely spellbinding
state of preservation.
A landmark opportunity to
become one of the few to own
this prestigious predecimal
rarity – don’t let it pass you by.
1937 CROWN PROOF FDC $ 37,500
AM389
Ø38.50mm
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To order 1300 788 358

Better-than-usually-seen quality
One of the great rarities in the
1910-64 Australian Commonwealth
Series, the 1922/21 Threepence
Overdate is an immensely
important type. One of very few
overdate types struck in Australia,
and certainly the most desirable,
this distinctive coin is sought after
by collector and investor alike. A
landmark opportunity for our clients,
we have THREE examples in betterthan-usually-seen
Very Good to
about Fine condition!
There is much debate as to why,
and how, the Melbourne Mint
modified one of its 1921 working
dies for use in 1922. Records show
that two fresh 1922 3d master
punches arrived from the Royal Mint
in January 1922, seemingly making
it unnecessary for the Melbourne
Mint to re-work old tools.
It is also known, however, that the
Mint held four 1921 3d reverse dies
in early 1922. The most plausible
explanation is that, in a bid to
extend the lifetime of a perfectly
good, but obsolete die, one of the
1921 dies had a ‘2’ punched into
the date. The 1922/21 Threepence
Overdate was born.
While its creation may be the
subject of controversy, there’s no
argument about the significance of
this Overdate type. Known by no
more than 900 examples, this coin
is a rarity of the highest order, and a
key to the entire 1910-64 Australian
Commonwealth Series. Rare and
highly sought after regardless of the
condition, the 1922/21 Threepence
Overdate creates fierce competition
when offered in better grade – as
here.
With a shallow strike and a high
circulation rate rendering most well
worn, the 1922/21 Threepence
is usually found in poor grade. A
mouth-watering opportunity to
own a premium grade example of
this crucial type, we have three
examples in Very Good to about
Fine.
It has been many years since we
have offered this highly desirable
Overdate type in such an impressive
state of preservation, and our stock
is sure to be wiped out at super
speed.
1922/21 3d OVERDATE
VG-aFINE
$
7,750
12001
Ø16mm
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Australia’s rare 1921 Square Penny…
Underpinned by rich history,
distinctive composition, shape
and design, the 1919-21 Square
Kookaburra Pattern Series is one
of the most important elements of
Australian numismatics – and one
of the rarest. Seldom seen on the
market, we are proud to present
the penultimate penny type from
this esteemed series – in FDC
condition!
Struck in the tiniest of numbers,
with the TOTAL mintage for the
thirteen 1919-21 halfpenny &
penny types amounting to a mere
200 coins, the series sprang from
an initiative to find a lighter
alternative to the traditional penny
and halfpenny types. Struck at the
Melbourne Mint following WWI,
the unusual square coins were
distributed to Government
officials, VIPs and dignitaries for
assessment. Although the
reaction was generally favourable,
the project died with the
resignation of its major advocate,
Treasurer William Watt.
Before the project was consigned
to the pages of history, the
Melbourne Mint struck Square
Kookaburra Patterns in 1921 –
including the 1921 Penny Type
12. Distinguished by what many
consider to be the strongest, most
appealing kookaburra motif of the
program, 1921 Square
Kookaburra Pattern Type 12 is
also notable for the distinctive
obverse portrait of King George V
– created by Australian artist
Douglas Richardson. Seldom
offered by Downies over recent
decades, the 1921 Kookaburra
Type 12 we have available is an
exquisite example. Underpinned
by strong, dark, even toning, this
immensely rare Australian Pattern
coin is in FDC condition.
Seldom seen on the market, this
highly sought after Roaring 20s
rarity would form a major
highlight of any collection, or a
compelling centrepiece of any
investment portfolio.
1921 SQUARE KOOKABURRA
PATTERN TYPE 12 FDC
$
47,500
12331
Ø18mm
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To order 1300 788 358

One of only two known
Bold colours, full body, crisp feel –
and sequentially numbered – this is
the finest of only two known 1918
£1 Cerutty/Collins Consecutive
Pairs. Uncirculated, but for a couple
of tiny pinholes, this wonderfully
fresh, incredibly rare WWI-era
banknote pair forms a mouthwatering
proposition for the serious
collector or astute investor.
£1 R21 CERUTTY/COLLINS
CONSEC PAIR aUNC
$
67,500
12321
An excessively rare pair…
The last George VI £10 note, and
a one-year-only issue, the 1952
£10 Coombs/Wilson in top grade
is extremely rare. When found
as a successively numbered
pair, it becomes a rarity of the
highest order. A superb, near
flawless pair, this highly desirable
Australian banknote rarity has been
conservatively graded in about
Uncirculated condition.
£10 R61 COOMBS/WILSON
CONSEC PAIR aUNC
$
26,000
12064
10

Just five notes in existence...
A great Australian colonial
rarity with a cracking tale to
tell, issued by the man who
founded the Victorian town of
Echuca, the Hopwood’s Ferry
£1 Note is known by just five
examples – and we have two
of the five notes available here!
Henry Hopwood was convicted
of receiving stolen goods
– several rolls of silk – in
1834, and was sentenced to
14 years transportation to
Australia. He was ultimately
released and pardoned in
1846, and headed from
Van Diemen's Land to the
mainland, working his way
north until he reached the
Murray River in 1848. A sharpwitted
entrepreneur, Hopwood
quickly realised the need for
a service assisting drovers
and farmers in crossing the
river, and built a ferry, as
well as a hotel. Originally
known as Hopwood’s Ferry,
the growing settlement was
officially named Echuca in
1855. In 1859, Hopwood built
the Bridge Hotel, which is not
only depicted upon the reverse
of the Hopwood’s Ferry £1, but
still stands today!
A true colonial pioneer,
Hopwood rose from convict to
wealthy, successful, respected
businessman, before dying in
1869. Known as the Father of
Echuca – Australia’s biggest
inland port in the 19th century
– Hopwood’s entrepreneurial
spirit extended to the issue of
private promissory notes.
Large, at 240mm x 140mm,
the Hopwood’s Ferry £1 is
a compelling piece of early
Australiana, and is recognised
as a great colonial rarity. We
have two of the five known
examples available here –
each graced with a stunning
design depicting the Murray
River, Hopwood’s ferry, as well
as both the Bridge Hotel and a
brothel!
‘Unissued’, and graded
good Very Fine and Very
Fine respectively, these
extraordinarily rare, highly
important colonial era relics
will command the attention of
collectors across the world.
£1 HOPWOOD'S FERRY
NOTE 186_ gVF
£1 HOPWOOD'S FERRY
NOTE 186_ VF
$
7,995
12185
$
5,500
12187
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Less than 100 known
Bearing a magnificent
design of Parliament
House, Australia’s first
commemorative is known
as the nation’s most
beautiful coin. A seldom seen
opportunity to enjoy this
distinctive work of numismatic
art in the finest known quality,
we have just one of the rare,
prestigious 1927 Canberra
Florin Proof FDC available.
The Melbourne Mint’s first
foray into collector coinage,
the mintage of the 1927
Canberra Florin Proof was
set at 400 – a figure that
completely sold out. Over
the nearly 90 years since
this coin was struck, a
substantial number from that
mintage have been lost, and
it is thought that less than
100 examples exist today.
Interestingly, long-time British
dealer Baldwin’s snapped up
a quantity from the original
striking, and with those
coins ultimately dispersed
worldwide, it has made
life very difficult for those
Australian collectors trying
to hunt down this celebrated
rarity.
A very rare coin in any
condition, this particular
example is flawless, with
sharply struck designs
complemented by a lovely
golden lustre. In strictly FDC,
and an immensely attractive
option for keen investor or
serious collector, a 1927
Canberra Florin of this quality
is offered on average, three
times every two years.
Immediate action is essential.
1927 CANBERRA
FLORIN PROOF FDC
$
37,500
AG643
Ø28.50mm
MAIL
PO Box 3131
Nunawading, Vic 3131
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©2015 – All rights reserved. Every Downies catalogue is printed on environmentally friendly chlorine-free and acid-free paper manufactured by an accredited mill. Both paper manufacturer and printer are accredited to ISO14001,
the internationally recognised standard to Environmental Management. All items offered are subject to being sold out prior to receipt of order. Products may be pictured not at actual size. Some items in this magazine may not
be immediately available from our retail outlets. This list cancels all previous direct selling lists. All prices in Australian dollars. Prices shown are subject to change without notice. Prices may include GST.
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