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Featuring the highly sought after ‘1000000’ serials, this excessively rare George VI 1942 10/- Armitage/McFarlane note in good Fine is the best of only THREE known examples! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one serious collector or sharp-eyed investor, we are delighted to

present this distinctive WWII-era Australian note to our clients for the very first time.

One of the most desirable, most prestigious elements of the increasingly popular field of special numbered notes, and one of the rarest, ‘million serial numbered notes’ not only represent an attractive numerical formation – they also offer a rich insight into the history of Australian currency production. With numbering machines having capacity for only six digits during the predecimal era, the one millionth note for each prefix had to be printed by hand! With only one in every million notes hand-printed with the ‘1000000’ serials number, and most no doubt well used in circulation and lost over time, it’s no great shock that notes such as the 1942 10/- Armitage/McFarlane ‘Million Serials’ are known by so few examples.

With the 1942 10/- Armitage/McFarlane ‘Million Serials’ note being so extraordinarily rare, it is no surprise that this dramatic type has experienced an astronomical rise in market price over the years. Valued in Fine at a mere $200 in 1989, this undeniably rare banknote soared to $9,500 by 2006! Recent growth has been equally spectacular, with a Fine example now valued at $15,500!

One of very occasions on which we have been privileged enough to present a ‘Million Serials’ numbered note to our clients, you must not miss this incredibly rare opportunity to own a truly great Australian rarity.

Joining forces with one of the world leaders in coin verification and grading, we

are delighted to announce that we are now members of the US-based PCGS – Professional Coin Grading Service.

Established in 1986, PCGS was founded by several of the USA’s leading numismatic experts, with the aim to create a ‘universal standard’ in the grading and authentication of rare coins. The need for independent, 3rd party verification of rare coins was essential to the long-term viability of the entire rare coin market, and PCGS has successfully strived to create a climate in which collectors and investors could buy and sell rare coins with the utmost confidence.

Using the Sheldon Scale, PCGS assigns each coin they assess with a numerical grade from 1 to 70. The appraisal of a coin’s physical condition, and the subsequent guarantee, is a long, painstaking process, with PCGS using a number of numismatic experts to verify every coin they handle. Each coin is then sonically sealed in a high-security capsule, providing both long-term protection and a Guarantee of Authenticity. The confidence that such meticulous effort breeds has revolutionised the rare coin industry, and ensured PCGS is now one of the world leaders in independent verification. Grading more than 18 million coins with a value of approximately US$18 billion, PCGS has the experience to match its unrivalled expertise.

Downies have been accepted into the PCGS ‘Authorized Dealers’ list, Downies is proud to be associated with such a respected member of our global numismatic community.

June 2010

Finest of only THREE known! World leaders…

Graded good Fine, and the finest of the three known examples, with the other two notes in VG and about Fine respectively

1942 R13m Armitage/McFarlane Million Numbered Serial good Fine

$21,000

Page 2

Highly Important Coins & Banknotes

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The 1955-63 Predecimal Proof

Struck at the Melbourne Mint in the year of Australia’s first Olympics, the 5-coin 1956 Proof Set is among

the most sought after issues in Australian numismatics.

With just 1,500 sets issued, each comprising the 1d, 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/-, the natural rarity of this set is exacerbated by the difficulty in acquiring copper Proofs in top quality. The number of complete 1956 Proof Sets in premium grade is but a fraction of the original mintage, with the battle to secure first quality collections seeing the catalogue value rise from $910 in 1997 to $2,425 today.

Notoriously rare, and yet still surprisingly affordable, the 1957 Melbourne Proof Set has the

second lowest mintage in the 1955-63 Melbourne series.

Catering for a collector market in its infancy, the mintage was closed at a mere 1,256 sets – each featuring the silver 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/-. With that tiny number suffering great attrition over the years, there may be as little as half the mintage actually available to collectors and investors today. The most affordable Proof Set of the 1950s, and a fabulous entry-point to a truly prestigious Australian series.

IIn keeping with the philosophy mentioned at left, the Perth Mint struck only the penny in Proof in 1959

– with a tiny mintage of just 1,030!

With so many coins from that meagre number lost over the half century since struck due to poor storage and mishandling, only a small pool of examples exist in perfect FDC quality – as here. With hot competition seeing the market value triple in just the last eight years, do not miss this rare opportunity to secure this superbly struck, exceedingly pretty example at such an affordable price. Just four coins in stock!

The second date of the 1955-63 Predecimal Proof Program, and the second rarest issue, the Perth Mint’s

1956 Proof Penny has an incredibly small mintage – just 417 were struck!

A highly desirable Australian rarity, to be enjoyed by the privileged few, this valuable piece is especially rare in first-class quality, with a huge percentage of the mintage lost to mishandling and poor storage. With infrequent appearances on the market in genuine FDC, as here, combined with increasingly fierce competition, this coin has jumped from $4,200 to $10,000 in just the last eight years!

In the predecimal era, a mint would strike in Proof only those denominations it had struck for circulation. Thus, with

Melbourne largely striking in silver, and Perth only producing copper, there was only one complete 6-coin Proof Set issued during the 1955-63 Predecimal Proof Program – the Melbourne Mint’s 1959 Proof Set.

Defined by a tiny mintage of just 1,506, and uniting the silver 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- with the copper 1d and 1/2d in perfect FDC condition, the 1959 Proof Set has soared in value in the last few years – from $1,750 to $4,165 since 2001!

As with all Predecimal Proof issues, the Melbourne Mint’s 1960 Proof Set was issued in tiny numbers,

with the mintage closed at a mere 1,509. Acknowledged as among the toughest of the Melbourne series to acquire, the first Proof Set of the 60s is still tremendously affordable.

Comprising the 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- coins – each defined by flawless fields and razor-sharp designs – this scarce silver set is an absolute bargain at just $1,200. At more than $200 off the rising catalogue value, the few sets we have in stock will sell-out at super speed.

The Olympic Set Second lowest mintage

One and only!

Just 417 struck!

Complete 6-coin set! Tough-to-find…

1956 Melbourne Mint Proof Set(5 coins)

$2,2501957 Melbourne Mint Proof Set (4 coins)

$1,4951956 Perth Mint Proof Penny

$9,950

1959 Melbourne Mint Proof Set (6 coins)

$4,0001960 Melbourne Mint Proof Set(4 coins)

$1,200

66 lb

1959 Perth Mint Penny Proof

$1,450f

,

Page 3

Highly Important Coins & Banknotes

Toll free 1300 788 358

Program – rare, prestigious, desirable

For the rarity, for the prestige and for the faultless, eye-catching quality, the first Proof issue of the 1960s from

the Perth Mint represents a truly mouth-watering acquisition for collector and investor alike!

Featuring the halfpenny and penny in exquisite FDC condition, the Perth 1960 Proof Set is undeniably rare. With just 1,030 issued, and with only a tiny percentage of that number still in premium quality, it’s no surprise that this stunning copper duo is so seldom offered. A set with much long-term potential, the 1960 Proof Pair is still within your reach at $2,300.

An increasing awareness of the beauty, importance and rarity of the Melbourne Mint’s 1962

Proof Set has led to a significant surge in demand for this stunning collection over the last ten years. Issued nearly five decades ago, with a tiny mintage of 2,016, the rise in competition has naturally resulted in extremely infrequent appearances on the market.

Reflecting the growing demand for the Mint’s penultimate Proof Set (comprising the silver 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/-), this key issue has nearly tripled in value in just eight years – from $530 to $1,315 since 2001!

An historic presentation, sought after as much for its ‘last-issue’ status as it is for its beauty, quality and

rarity, the 1963 Proof Set (mintage 5,042) represents the Melbourne Mint’s final predecimal Proof issue.

Although the market value is on the rise, from $480 to $945 since 2001, this exquisite collection still forms the most affordable entry point to the series. Comprising the 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- coins – each defined by fields of utmost clarity, playing host to the sharpest of designs – we have only a small number of the last predecimal Proof Set in stock.

Even as the predecimal era drew to a close, the market for the Predecimal Proof Program was still remarkably

small – resulting in extremely small mintages and natural rarity today.

Including the silver 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/- coins – each struck to the most impeccable Proof standard – the Melbourne Mint’s 1961 Proof Set is a prime example. The lowest mintage of the 1960s Melbourne sets, with just 1,506 issued, the 1961 Proof Set is proving increasingly difficult to find in original, as struck condition – as here. Sensational value at just $300 per pristine predecimal Proof!

Very rare, the Perth Mint’s 1962 Proof Pair has a mintage of 1,064. A tiny number by any standards,

the amount of premium examples has been considerably undermined by the difficulty in keeping copper in pristine condition. Just a few hundred first quality pairs remain, with an increased recognition of this immense rarity sparking intense competition and consequently strong performance.

Showing great potential, the 1962 Penny & Halfpenny Proof Pair has surged from $900 in 2001 to a current value of $2,300! With ongoing demand sure to sustain the increasing market price, there is every incentive for immediate action.

The Perth Mint’s last predecimal Proofs, the 1963 Proof Pair is the most sought after Proof issue of the

60s. Featuring awe inspiring, blazing orange surfaces, the 1963 Penny & Halfpenny are rarely seen in perfect FDC quality as here.

With an official mintage of only 1,100, this pair is naturally scarce. The number of coins in first-quality has diminished steadily over the years, falling victim to the passage of time and poor handling. Seldom offered, the catalogue value tells the tale of this extreme rarity – shooting from $1,145 to $2,525 in just the last eight years!

Pristine Perth Pair! Highly sought after

Finale in Silver

Lowest 60s mintage

Rare in this quality… The last from Perth!

1960 Perth Mint Halfpenny& Penny Proof Pair

$2,300

1963 Melbourne Mint Proof Set (4 coins)

$895

1961 Melbourne Mint Proof Set(4 coins)

$1,200

1962 Perth Mint Halfpenny & Penny Proof Pair

$2,2001963 Perth Mint Halfpenny& Penny Proof Pair

$2,400

19961 M 1962 Melbourne Mint Proof Set (4 coins)

$1,200

Page 4

Highly Important Coins & Banknotes

www.downies.com

U nderpinned by precise detail in the design, smooth surfaces and a glorious original lustre, this spectacular Uncirculated example of the

1883S Half Sovereign is among the finest we have seen. Exceedingly rare in such a breathtaking state of preservation, the chance to secure this historic 22-carat gold coin demands the most serious consideration of the passionate Australian collector – and astute investor.

United by the armorial magnificence of the much-admired Shield design, and the superb Young Head portrait of Queen

Victoria, the 1883S Gold Half Sovereign is, like every coin in the sovereign series, scarce to rare across all grades. With

mintages of the half sovereign generally a mere 10% of that of the sovereign, and, as a lower denomination, suffering a much higher rate of circulation, most half sovereign dates are tough to find – particularly in light of the number melted for the gold.

The 1883S Half Sovereign is no exception to the rule, and with a majority of the tiny mintage of 220,000 lost or

destroyed in the 127 years since struck at the Sydney Mint, this coin is rarely sighted – especially in premium grade.

Leaping from $9,000 in 2004 to a current price of $17,500 in Unc, the soaring market value of the 1883S is indicative of the increasing recognition of its genuine rarity – and genuine potential.

An extremely rare opportunity, the single 1883S Half Sovereign in stock is in strictly Uncirculated quality – as good as the day it was struck!

Not only the last Australian Gold Half Sovereign date, the Perth Mint’s 1918P is among the rarest

half sovereign dates. Although Mint records reveal that no half sovereigns were produced in 1918, it is believed that approximately 200 to 300 examples were indeed struck.

Remarkably, Mint records also indicate that half sovereigns were struck in 1919 and 1920 but never issued, with virtually all melted down. Some theorise that these coins may well have been struck with 1918 dies, leading to the creation of a date that shouldn’t exist!

Extremely rare, the 1918P is naturally the key to the series. One of Australia’s most historic gold types, this coin is seldom offered, and with just two examples in stock – conservatively graded virtually Uncirculated with attractive lustre and almost Uncirculated respectively – immediate action is essential.

As beautiful and as desirable as

its successor, the Half Sovereign, Britain’s 20mm 4.3g 1787-1800 Spade Half Guinea is a crucial Australian Proclamation Era coin – especially sought after when bearing the date 1788, as here. Struck from 22-carat gold in the year the First Fleet landed upon Australian shores, this iconic colonial rarity is available in magnificent Extremely Fine condition.

Simply magnificent…

The last Half…

Colonial Gold!

1918 Perth Half Sovereign almost Uncirculated

$9,500

GB 1788 Half Guinea Extremely Fine

$1,295

1918 Perth Half Sovereign virtually Uncirculated

$10,950

1883 Sydney Young Head Half Sovereign Uncirculated(with obverse scratch) $12,500

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Page 5

Highly Important Coins & Banknotes

Toll free 1300 788 358

£1 R18b Collins/Allen nearly Very Fine $9,500

£5 R44b Riddle/Sheehan nearly Very Fine $3,450

The first – and the rarest…

Very rare in this grade

The Final Five!

Representing the beginning of Australia’s first national banknote series, the first 10/- banknote was issued in 1913.

Bearing Australia’s first signature combination, Collins/Allen, this highly sought note is as rare as it is historically invaluable.

Indeed, the 1913 Collins/Allen 10/- is properly described as a great Australian rarity. With the 10/- denomination generally issued in the tens, if not hundreds, of millions, the total number of the 1913 Collins/Allen 10/- printed is extraordinarily small – approximately 500,000 notes! Seldom seen on the market in any condition, the rarity of this 97-year-old numismatic icon is such that, even in lower grade, the 1913 Collins/Allen 10/- has soared in value in the last decade – leaping from $4,950 to $17,500 in VG and from $9,000 to $40,000 in Fine!

One of Australia’s most important currency issues – the first £1 of the 1913-65 predecimal series – the 1913 £1 Collins/

Allen in premium grade is extremely rare, and represents a ‘dream acquisition’ for any serious banknote collector.

Moreover, like most predecimal rarities, the huge increase in competition for early Australian notes has turned this collector icon into a compelling investment option. This note in Fine, for example, has rocketed from $1,850 to $7,000 in just the last eight years! With a note in VF rising from $4,500 to $20,000 in the same period, our price for this conservatively graded near VF note represents outstanding value.

Issued nearly a century ago, this premium grade example of Australia’s very first £1 note is among the finest we have ever offered. Don’t miss this rare opportunity!

Representing a radical change from the designs of all preceding £5 notes, the 1933 Riddle/Sheehan £5 was the first

Legal Tender Series £5 – and the last £5 of George V.

A landmark Australian note type, the later notes of the last George V £5 print-run are, as here, distinguished by a white-faced portrait of the King. Marginally rarer than the earlier ‘Pink Face’ issues, this note is very difficult to find in premium grade. As with all high denomination notes, few people had the luxury to casually pop a few aside as a keepsake – or in hope that this note would be the valuable investment item that it has become. Worth $1,000 in 2001, the market value of the 1933 Riddle/Sheehan £5 in VF is now $5,000!

Very competitively priced at $3,450, we have one example in stock in nearly Very Fine.

10/- R2d Collins/AllenVery Good

$3,25010/- R2c Collins/AllenVery Good

$4,500

10/- R1c Collins/Allen Fair $8,500ALSO AVAILABLE

Page 6

Highly Important Coins & Banknotes

www.downies.com

The King of Coins!

A rarity of world standing, the 1930 Penny is Australia’s most desirable coin – especially when found in the stunning condition

seen here! One of the finest examples we have offered in nearly 80 years in the industry, this is an irresistible opportunity for the serious collector or investor to secure this legendary copper coin in exceptionally strong good Very Fine quality!

With good Very Fine representing a premium grade for the date, this particular 1930 Penny is undoubtedly in the top few per cent of the approximately 1,500 existing examples. The 1930 Penny in such superior grade is rightly recognised as the ultimate collector acquisition. The King of Coins, it is Australia’s primary numismatic icon – the coin every collector would love to own. To many today, however, the collector importance and illustrious heritage of this key rarity is irrelevant. It is viewed purely as a wise portfolio diversification, with investors joining collectors in a fierce battle for the 1,500 coins known to exist.

Market forces dictate that increased demand on a dwindling supply

can only result in rising value. With high-grade examples especially sought after, the past 10 years has seen the price of a 1930 Penny in VF rocket from $17,000 to a current price of $50,000, with a coin in EF leaping from $50,000 to $125,000!

An exceptional opportunity presents itself to own Australia’s most iconic rarity in such an outstanding state of preservation which demands serious attention.

‘In the top few per cent for quality…’

1930 Penny good Very Fine

$74,500

Certainly the highest grade 1930 Penny we have offered in nearly a decade, the obverse of this good Very Fine example is distinguished by a near-full centre diamond, with traces of the 7th and 8th pearls apparent

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Page 7

Highly Important Coins & Banknotes

Toll free 1300 788 358

Australia’s key halfpenny date…

TThe rarest, most sought after date in the 1911-64 Halfpenny Series, the 1923 Halfpenny is seldom available to collectors in premium grade. A tremendously rare example, we have the

1923 Halfpenny available in stunning about Extremely Fine!

With the 1923 Halfpenny known by a mere 15,000 examples, it stands to reason that this coin would be scarce across all grades – and extremely rare in the upper echelons of quality. The object of desire of investor and collector alike, the leading light of the 1911-64 Halfpenny Series has been the focus of constant demand in the last decade, with increased competition leading to an escalating market value.

Nowhere has the rise in value been more apparent than in premium condition. If you had acquired this key predecimal type in VF in 1999, you would have paid $1,650, with an EF example setting you back $4,500. Now, with an ongoing scramble for the few high-grade examples on the market, a 1923 Halfpenny in VF catalogues at $4,750, with an EF coin soaring to $18,500! Although elusive, and notwithstanding the jump in value, the 1923 Halfpenny remains within the reach of those looking for a serious investment at a reasonable price.

An exceptional coin, in the seldom seen grade of about Extremely Fine, the one 1923 Halfpenny we have available will be snapped up instantly.

Immensely rare in this superb quality!

1923 Halfpenny about Extremely Fine

$15,000

1911 Threepence NGC MS68

$8,975

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First George V 3d – in Mint state!In 1911, a shipment of bright, shiny new sterling silver threepences

arrived from the Royal Mint in London – Australia’s second threepence date and the very first of the new king, George V. Part of a very low

mintage, the number of coins remaining in Mint-state nearly a century later is infinitesimal, with the 1911 3d virtually never seen in such startling quality as presented here.

One of the finest known, embodying a glittering piece of Australian numismatic history, this particular coin has been officially slabbed and graded by leading US company Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) at MS68 – the equivalent to Gem Brilliant Uncirculated. That grade hardly does the coin justice because, defined by pristine background fields and razor-sharp designs, this breathtaking George V 1911 3d is unquestionably the finest we have seen – and may ever see.

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MAIL: PO Box 888, Abbotsford Vic 3067

TELEPHONE:

TOLL FREE 1300 788 358 Melbourne callers – (03) 8456 8456

FAX: (03) 8456 8401

EMAIL: orders@downies.com

IN PERSONSYDNEYShop 5, Town Hall Square, SydneyTel: (02) 9299 4131, Fax: (02) 9261 4199MELBOURNEShops 11 & 12, Block Arcade, 98–100 Elizabeth St, MelbourneTel: (03) 8677 8888, Fax: (03) 8677 8890

Highly Important Coins & Banknotes

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©2010 – All rights reserved. Every Downies catalogue is made from paper that is a) obtained from sustainable forests, and b) treated with an environmentally-friendly bleaching process. All items offered are subject to being sold out prior to receipt of order. Coins may be photographed not at actual size. This list cancels all previous direct selling lists. Prices shown are subject to change without notice. Prices may include GST.

Desirable good Fine quality!

One of just 200 coins!

One of the first two coin types struck in Australia, the 1813 NSW Silver Dump is exceedingly rare in this condition. With fantastic detail in the lettering, the date and the Crown, this iconic partner to the 1813 Holey Dollar is offered

just a few times a year in this quality.

An outstanding opportunity for one of our clients to enjoy a premium grade example of this extremely rare, deeply historic coin, this superb Silver Dump was one of just 40,000 punched from the centre of 40,000 Spanish Silver Dollars procured by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1812. The Dump and the outer ring of the restruck Spanish silver, the famous Holey Dollar, circulated widely until the 1820s. When legal tender status was withdrawn in 1829, however, most were either swapped for British currency or melted for the silver, and less than 1,000 Dumps exist today.

Such rarity inevitably drives fierce competition, and this iconic piece of early Australiana is no exception to the rule. With huge demand for the few available coins, the value of this high profile rarity has skyrocketed across all grades, with the A/1 type in VF, for example, soaring from $9,000 to $70,000 since 1997.

Just one good Fine 1813 Silver Dump available – presented with a Downies Certificate of Authenticity.

Underpinned by rich history, immense quality and strong provenance, we have available just one example of Australia’s very first gold coin – in superb near Extremely Fine condition!

One of Australia’s most desirable, highest profile rarities, the 1852 Adelaide £1 was struck due to a severe currency shortage in South Australia caused by the Gold Rush to the east. Although 24,000 examples of the 1852 Adelaide £1 were

struck, a rise in the price of gold saw virtually the entire mintage fall victim to the melting pot. One of just 200 existing examples,

this particular coin is notable as having been struck early in the minting process, with later strikings distinguished by

five dots near ’22 CARATS’ on the reverse – absent from this coin.

Once part of the Strathburn Collection – an extensive aggregation of Australian gold coins assembled by a collector during the 1960s – this high-grade 1852 Adelaide £1 will form a prestigious centrepiece to any Australian collection.

1813 NSW Type A1 Dump good Fine

$27,500

1852 Type II Adelaide Pound near Extremely Fine

$39,600

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A strong market performer, the 1852 Adelaide £1 in EF has jumped from $30,000 to $48,000 in just the last five years!