Coin collecting

Why do coins have serrations (or grooves) around their edges?

To understand why many coins have edge serrations we must go back to a time before coin making-machinery was available.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – a celebration in coins

We have struck many coins featuring Her Majesty’s coin effigies since 1953, including many millions of pennies, halfpennies, 1 cent and 2 cent coins.

How to start a coin collection

Coin collecting is now easily accessible to the many, and, in fact, the hobby has seen huge growth in the market recently. Find out more here.

The Perth Mint coin collecting glossary

We’ve put together this coin collecting glossary to help decipher some of those numismatic terms.

Five of Australia’s rarest and most fascinating coins

We discuss five of Australia’s rarest and most fascinating coins, and the history of our early currency system.

Six royal effigies of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Australian coinage

After 70 years, here are the six royal effigies of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Australian coinage across her reign.

Rare ‘mule’ dollar resurfaces as a valuable find

A $1 coin has re-emerged as a potential collector jackpot.

Insiders’ guide to precious metal coin production

In this article we explore some of the techniques and equipment The Perth Mint’s Coining department uses to make exquisitely finished precious metal coins.

Crafted to collect

In this article we explore some of the techniques and equipment The Perth Mint’s Coining department uses to make exquisitely finished precious metal coins.

What makes a successful coin series?

It’s a tricky challenge: identify the theme for a collectable coin that will win the hearts of collectors — and do it a year or two in advance, before any design has hit the page.