Planchet Errors at the Australian Mint Turn Common Coins into Rarities

Noble Numismatics auctioned two Australian error coins today, and they were expected to draw substantial bidding. The 1978 fifty-cent coin struck on a twenty-cent blank is the rarest of the two. According to the auction house, it was never circulated. It was anticipated to bring $1,500, while the other coin, a 1994 ten-cent coin struck on a five-cent blank, was predicted to fetch $1,000.

Speaking to 7NEWS.com.au, Perth coin and banknote expert Joel Kandiah said of the error coins, “This is when they’ve used the wrong-sized blank for the machine that the coin has been minted on. When you mint a coin, the blank goes into the machine, and then you’ve got the head side and the tail side that will put pressure onto the blank to create a coin. So, the wrong blank has gone in, and that’s called a wrong planchet error.”

According to Kandiah, this error is now extremely rare and would usually be spotted immediately, thanks to modern quality control. However, because these mistakes happened 30 and 46 years ago, respectively, it’s likely that the technology was not as advanced as it is today. He stated, “Given how strict the quality control processes are (and) have always been at the Royal Australian Mint, it’s more than likely that could be the only error that appears and that any errors that could have been minted probably would have been taken out anyway and they might have just missed one.”

The two coins, along with various other rare coins, were to be auctioned at the State Library of NSW today. While some lots have yet to close, both of these coins have been sold. The estimated price for the 1978 mis-strike coin was $1,500, and the realized price was $2,000. The 1994 error coin, estimated at $1,000, brought $800.

You may also like:

Errors Cents Draw Eyes to Hobby 

Aussies Can't Spell 

Unique Mated Pair Shield Nickel Discovered