Rare $2 Coin Collection Gains Popularity in Australia
Australians are being encouraged to look out for a rare $2 coin that could be worth up to $350. In recent years, coin collecting has surged in popularity, and many enthusiasts are turning it into a profitable hobby.
Jamie Pan, a 32-year-old from Victoria, left his full-time sales job last year to pursue his passion for coins as a full-time business. According to him, there’s been a noticeable increase in interest for collectible coins. “I think the boom in coin collecting really started with the Queen’s passing,” he mentioned, noting that with her passing, the focus on royal coins shifted to the new king.
“People see this as a chance to hold onto a piece of history that might be valuable in the future,” he added.
Data from eBay Australia indicates that interest in coins has increased significantly, with searches rising by about 190% annually. Alaister Low, the head of eBay Australia’s Collectibles, remarked, “There’s a certain thrill in discovering parts of history that you can possess.” He noted that this newfound interest offers collectors both the excitement of expanding their collections and the potential for profitable investments.
Last year, Pan’s business, known as Jiggy Coins, made $500,000 in revenue through coin sales. He specifically focuses on rare $2 coins, stating that some of them can fetch prices around $350.
The most sought-after coin, according to Pan, is the 2012 Red Poppy Coin, which was created by the Royal Australian Mint to honor Remembrance Day, featuring vibrant flowers at its center. Only 500,000 of these were minted. Another notable coin is the 2013 Queen’s Coronation Coin, produced to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation, with one million coins made.
Pan mentioned that these coins generally sell for about $60 to $80 when in circulation.
Other popular coins include the 2022 Bee Coin, which was released to mark 200 years of Australia’s beekeeping industry, with only 2 million minted. They once sold for anywhere between $8 and $15, but current prices are around the $8 mark.
There’s also the 2017 Rosemary Remembrance Day Coin, featuring a colored image of rosemary, which has become quite valuable over time. “Circulation coins might begin around $10, while those not circulating could reach up to $15,” Pan explained.
Some extremely valuable coins sold on eBay recently include the 2016 Kimberley Sunrise 2oz Gold Proof High Relief Coin, which fetched $19,500. There were also sets from the Royal Australian Mint that sold for significant amounts, such as the 2014 and 2010 Gold Coin Proof Sets, which brought in $14,700 and $14,600, respectively.
These rare coins are specifically for collectors, meaning you won’t stumble across them in everyday change. However, Pan remains optimistic that others can still find rare circulating coins. “I found one Red Poppy coin once,” he shared. “And I think I found around 24 of the 2013 Coronation coins.”
