A practical guide for collectors who want a complete, satisfying set
Are you knew to collecting Australian coins? Or have you been collecting Australian $1, $2 or other decimal coins and looking for a launch in to pre-decimal? Or are you a seasoned pre-decimal collector and looking for a simple display? For many Australian collectors, a pre-decimal type set is the best place to start.
It is structured, achievable, and deeply satisfying to complete. Rather than chasing every date, mintmark, and variety, a type set focuses on the core denominations and designs that defined Australian currency before decimal changeover in 1966. That makes it one of the most accessible ways to build a meaningful collection with historical depth and visual impact.
What is a pre-decimal type set?
A typical pre-decimal type set is a collection made up of one example of each main pre-decimal denomination design. This is not a definitive list and you can expand or reduce it how you see fit.
For Australia, that usually means:
• Halfpenny – two designs
• Penny – two designs
• Threepence – one design
• Sixpence – one design
• Shilling – two designs
• Florin – two designs plus commemorative editions
• Crown – one design
Then a combination of obverse designs:
• Edward VII
• George V
• George VI – two designs
• Elizabeth II – two designs
A full date run can get very expensive very fast. With a type set you're not trying to collect every year, variety and mintmark. You're not leaving any gaps for a 1930 penny or 1923 half penny. You are building a representative set that captures the full character of Australian pre-decimal coinage.
For most collectors, that is the right balance between history, structure, and affordability.
How to approach buying coins for your set
The best collectors are usually patient buyers.
Instead of buying everything at once, build the set gradually. Start with the more common denominations, learn what good collector-grade coins look like, and leave the tougher or more expensive pieces until later.
A simple buying strategy
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Decide which coins you want
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Decide how you want to organise and present them
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Start with consistency, not perfection
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Add what you already have on hand if any
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Look at a bulk purchase for the more affordable coins
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Consider your alloys
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Research and take your time with the more sought after coins
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Upgrade individual coins over time as better examples appear
This approach gives you a satisfying collection early, without forcing you into rushed decisions.
1. Decide which coins you want
Decide how broad or how detailed you want to go, this will determine your approach. Do you want to go with each obverse and reverse combination? Are you happy with just one of each Obverse design or even one per denomination? Or do you want to go as detailed as mint stamps? Like the Y. pennies or the M or S stamped silver coins?
A dedicated album will make this much easier like the Legacy Mint Co. Pre-Decimal Type Set album.
2. Decide how you want to organise and present them
A type set is not just about what you buy. It is also about how you keep it. This is especially important with pre-decimal coins, because the set is as much about presentation as it is about ownership. A loose group of coins in flips or pouches does not give the same sense of progress or completion. A proper album changes that. It gives the collection structure.
Good storage does three jobs:
- Protects your coins
- Organises the set properly
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Makes the collection more enjoyable to view
3. Start with consistency, not perfection
Decide on the quality you want to go for with your collection. One of the most common mistakes new collectors make is chasing the best possible example of each coin from the start.
If you're happy to extend your budget, this is great, but don't be caught out. If you decide to go uncirculated quality for all of your coins, this won't be hard for some of your common varieties but when you start to get to coins like the 1934/45 Melbourne Florin or any of the 1910 denominations, getting the same quality is going to be expensive.
That usually leads to overspending, frustration, or a collection that feels uneven. A better approach is to aim for consistent, attractive collector grade coins across the set.
A type set nearly always looks better when the coins feel visually balanced.
A practical rule is to choose coins that are:
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Clearly identifiable
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Pleasant to look at
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Free from major damage
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Reasonably matched in overall quality
You can always upgrade later. In fact, upgrading over time is part of the fun.
4. Add what you already have on hand
If you have any in your collection already, this is the logical place to start. This can also determine the consistency you want to go for.
5. Look at a bulk purchase for the more affordable coins
The more affordable coins are going to be the low hanging fruit. A good option is to buy a bulk set of mixed coins.
Go on Ebay, Facebook groups, coin fairs or dealers and see if they have any bulk sets available. Normally these will be the high mintage years and you can get a good discount.
There is low risk with these that they will be fake so buying of Ebay is generally safe. Facebook groups are also a good source for these (do your reasearch and make sure they are reputable groups). If you're concerned about the coins being cleaned, these are generally picked up within the Facebook audience. You can also ask if you're not sure.
6. Consider your alloys
The silver coin varieties have different alloy make ups. Up until 1946, the Silver denominations contained 92.5% silver. From 1947 onwards, this dropped to 50% silver. This won't impact your buying decision on most, but is a consideration when buying a type set. Post 1947 coins are generally going to more affordable.
7. Research and take your time with the more sought after coins
There are going to be a small number of coins that you'll want to be a little more cautious with when buying.
1934/35 Melbourne Florin
Source:Artist: Percy Metcalfe, Photographer: Naomi AndrzejeskiMuseums Victoriahttps://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/55860
There were only 54,000 of these released in to circulation. Most will be fairly good quality. Given the low mintage, there are lots of fakes or 'gap fillers'out there.
1910 Florin
Source: Museums Victoria
https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/75709
If you're wanting an exceptional version of this one, be prepared to spend up to $800 - $1000. There are also fakes of these floating around
1938 Crown (If you choose)
I'd suggest going a 1937 Crown to start but if you want to go 1938 of which there were only 101,000 minted, you'll be paying 3 to 4 times more than the 1937 version. There are lots of fakes or 'gap fillers'' for this one as well.
Cleaned coins
This is really easy to get caught out on. I purchased a 1938 Crown from a reputable dealer on a Facebook Group who I had purchased from before. It was a fantastic looking coin, great quality and detail. I sent it off for grading and it was returned ungraded as 'cleaned'. This had gotten past me, the dealer and everyone else on the Facebook group.
This wasn't a huge concern for me but I did end up selling it at a loss. If you're happy with the coin and not looking to sell it, then you may be ok. But it's good to be aware.
The right price
Make sure you research the coin and the price and set your budget. If you're buying from Facebook groups, keep in mind amateur photos are not always great and you may not get the coin you were expecting. Ebay is even more of a challenge because you don't have a large audience who will point out if anything is off with the coin.
If you want peace of mind, then I'd suggest buying from a dealer (ideally bricks and mortar where you can physically view the coin) or be patient and get one at auction (like Downies, Noble, Heritage Auctions etc). Make sure you understand how auctions work, particularly the commission structure. You can also buy a 'slabbed' coin that has been graded by PSGS or NGC. This will guarantee the quality you're receiving but will cost extra and won't go in an album.
8. Upgrade individual coins over time as better examples appear
Once you've completed your set, you can start to selectively upgrade as you come across better examples. Or you can move on to buying a full run of a pre-decimal denomination. The type set can be a good launching point and education.
Mistakes to avoid when building a pre-decimal type set
1. Trying to do too much at once
Keep the first goal simple: going too broad without deciding on a scope. A type set album with help with this.
2. Buying purely on price
Cheap coins can be poor value if they are badly damaged or visually weak.
3. Over paying
The benefit of a type set is you have a variety of coins to choose from. It doesn't make sense that you would buy the rarest version of the type. Do your research and find the coin most suited to what you're looking for and budget.
3. Mixing wildly different quality levels
A type set usually looks better when the coins are reasonably consistent.
4. Leaving storage as an afterthought
Presentation and protection are part of the collection, not separate from it.
5. Waiting until the set is complete to organise it
A dedicated album actually helps you build the set more effectively.
Final thoughts
If you want an easy way to collect Australian pre-decimal coins, or just looking for a small set as opposed to going all in, start with a type set.
It is focused enough to stay manageable, broad enough to feel historically complete, and visually strong enough to be deeply satisfying once arranged properly.
A good set deserves good presentation. If you are building yours now, the Legacy Mint Co. Pre-Decimal Type Set Album is designed to help you do it properly from the beginning.
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