RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 22 · 5/- · 1938 · MELBOURNE
1938 crown, and what it's worth
The Australian five shilling crown dated 1938, struck at the Melbourne Mint in the second and last year of the Australian crown, with a large crown on the reverse.
A genuine one, barely worn
$240
Middle half of sales $190 to $300. Lowest $100, highest $650.
Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 64 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2016 to 2026. Updated 30 Oct 2026.
Prices by condition
AUDWorn coins sell for less. Find the row that looks most like yours.
Lightly wornVery Fine · 23 sales
$140
Barely wornExtremely Fine · 31 sales
$240
Never usedUncirculated · 10 sales
$750
Line: lowest to highest sale. Box: the middle half of sales. Dot: the median, half sold for more and half for less.
Recent sales
HammerHow to check yours
Each letter on the drawing marks where to look. A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom helps.
-
Check A: Does the date under the crown read 1938?
The date under the crown on the reverse- YES
- The date under the crown reads 1938.
- NO
- The date under the crown reads 1937.
-
Check B: Does the reverse show a crown with COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA around it?
The whole reverse- YES
- A large crown in the centre with COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA above and ONE CROWN below.
- NO
- A different design, such as a shield of arms, or a legend that does not mention Australia.
The free photo checker is on its way.
Record
- Face value
- 5/-
- Year
- 1938
- Mint
- Melbourne
- 101,600 were struck in 1938. [4][2][3][5]
- That is about a tenth of the roughly one million struck in 1937. [4][5]
- The smaller 1938 run followed the coin's unpopularity, and the crown was then dropped. [4][5]
- Struck at the Melbourne Mint. [1][2][3]
- Made of sterling silver and 38.5 mm across. [4][2][3]
- The portrait of George VI is by T. H. Paget and the crown reverse is by George Kruger Gray. [4][2]
Questions
How much is a 1938 crown worth?
A genuine 1938 crown in barely worn condition (Extremely Fine) has typically sold for $240 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $190 and $300. Better-preserved examples sell for more.
How do I know if my 1938 crown is genuine?
Work through the checks above. They cover what genuine examples show and what altered or different versions don't. A photo can't prove a coin or note is genuine, so for a valuable find, ask a professional numismatist or a grading service before you sell.
Should I clean it?
No. Cleaning leaves fine scratches that collectors spot at once, and cleaned coins and notes sell for much less. Keep it as it is, in a paper envelope or a coin holder.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from at least two independent sources. Prices come from our own record of auction results.
- Coin - Crown (5 Shillings), Australia, 1938, read 29 Oct 2026
- Australia 1938 Crown, read 29 Oct 2026
- George VI 1938 Crown Uncirculated, read 29 Oct 2026
- Crown (Australian coin), read 29 Oct 2026
- Noble Numismatics lot 132705 (Golder Edward VIII pattern crown), read 29 Oct 2026