Australian 20 Cent Coin Value Guide

The Australian 20 cent coin is a cornerstone of decimalisation, first introduced in 1966 to replace the florin. It is highly collectible due to its iconic Stuart Devlin platypus design and the various effigies of Queen Elizabeth II that document her long reign.

What Is Australian 20 Cent Coin Worth?

The typical price range for Australian 20 Cent Coin is $0 - $3 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The specific mint year, as lower mintage numbers for certain dates can increase scarcity and demand.
• The physical condition and grade of the coin, with uncirculated examples fetching the highest prices up to $3.00.
• The presence of rare minting errors or varieties, such as the famous 1966 'wavy baseline' variant.
• The level of surface wear on the high points of the platypus design and the Queen's hair.

How to Identify Australian 20 Cent Coin?

• Verify the composition is 75% copper and 25% nickel, giving it a distinct silver-colored cupro-nickel appearance.
• Check the reverse for the detailed platypus illustration by Stuart Devlin, which has remained the standard since 1966.
• Examine the obverse for the specific portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which changed over the 1966-2008 period to reflect her age.
• Look for the 'SD' initials on the reverse, representing the designer Stuart Devlin, located near the platypus's left flipper.

History of Australian 20 Cent Coin

Australia introduced the 20 cent coin in 1966 when the nation decimalised its currency, replacing the florin. The reverse traditionally features a platypus design by Stuart Devlin that became iconic for the denomination. The obverse has shown successive effigies of Queen Elizabeth II from 1966 until recent years. Many dates and mint varieties exist, and certain years or mint errors can be significantly more valuable to collectors.