Australian coin collectors and experts have spotlighted three $1 gold coins that could be hiding in your change—each potentially worth far more than its face value. Their value comes down to minting errors, unique designs, and how many were actually released into circulation.
2001 Centenary of Federation $1 Coin (Rotation Error) – Worth $50 to $100
One of the top coins to keep an eye out for is the 2001 Centenary of Federation $1 coin with a rotation error. These can fetch between $50 and $100. The key feature? When flipped, if the Queen’s head doesn’t appear upright, then you might have something rare.
Doug Mcrostie, founder of Coinxchange, told Yahoo Finance the error was caused by a die issue during production, which led to misaligned prints.
“So they actually printed a whole bunch of different rotations, so it’s not a specific 90 degrees,” Mcrostie said.
“People frame it as a 1 o’clock rotation, or a 2 o’clock or 3 o’clock. So you can literally have it going all the way around.
“The most desirable ones are a direct 180 or a 90 degree. I’ve seen one collector have the full clock, so they had all 12 versions.”
The Royal Australian Mint produced 27.9 million of these coins in 2001, but only a small number contain the rotation error. Mcrostie estimates that several thousand could still be in circulation.
2021 Mob of Roos $1 Coin – Worth $10 to $25
Another coin to watch out for is the 2021 Mob of Roos $1 coin. Unlike the others, this one doesn’t have an error—it’s valuable simply because so few were made.
Only 106,000 of these standard issue coins were released, making it the lowest mintage $1 coin in active circulation. Collectors currently value these coins between $10 and $25.
2016 Changeover $1 Coin – Worth $20 to $50
The third rare coin is the 2016 Changeover $1 coin, which was minted to mark 50 years since Australia switched to decimal currency in 1966.
This coin features a special commemorative obverse design that pays tribute to the historic Australian Florin (minted from 1910 to 1963), while its reverse side displays the iconic Mob of Roos.
Part of a six-coin commemorative series, the $1 Changeover coin saw 560,000 units minted. Today, its value ranges from $20 to $50, depending on condition.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s a die rotation, a low mintage, or a historic design, these $1 coins prove that everyday change could be hiding small treasures. Next time you check your wallet or coin jar, take a closer look—you might just discover one of these valuable finds.
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