RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 08 · 1D · 1946 · MELBOURNE MINT
1946 penny, and what it's worth
The Australian King George VI penny dated 1946 under the kangaroo's tail, the low-mintage key date of the George VI pennies, struck at Melbourne.
A genuine one, barely worn
$300
Middle half of sales $200 to $600. Lowest $130, highest $1,400.
Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 31 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 · 7 sales
$100
Barely wornExtremely Fine · 17 sales
$300
Never usedUncirculated · 7 sales
$1,100
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 kangaroo's tail read 1946?
Reverse, under the kangaroo's tail- YES
- The digits 1946 sit below the tail, above the word PENNY.
- NO
- Another year under the tail.
-
Check B: Is there a small dot between the K and the G?
Reverse, the designer's initials KG just above the tip of the kangaroo's tail- YES
- The initials read K.G, with a tiny raised dot between the letters. Benchmark lists this as an extremely rare 1946 variety.
- NO
- The initials read KG with no dot between them.
The free photo checker is on its way.
Record
- Face value
- 1d
- Year
- 1946
- Mint
- Melbourne Mint
- 1946 has one of the lowest mintages of any Australian penny. [3][4][1]
- The 1946 penny was struck at the Melbourne Mint. [3][5]
- The George VI portrait is by T. H. Paget and the kangaroo reverse is by George Kruger Gray. [2][1]
- The designers' initials appear on the coin: HP below the King's head and KG above the tip of the kangaroo's tail. [2][5]
Questions
How much is a 1946 penny worth?
A genuine 1946 penny in barely worn condition (Extremely Fine) has typically sold for $300 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $200 and $600. Better-preserved examples sell for more.
How do I know if my 1946 penny 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.
- Penny (Australian coin), read 29 Oct 2026
- Art Gallery of South Australia: Australian 1946 Penny, read 29 Oct 2026
- Downies: Australia George VI 1946 Penny Very Fine, read 29 Oct 2026
- Sterling & Currency: 1946 Penny - the 3rd Rarest Australian Penny, read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1946 Penny, read 29 Oct 2026
- Benchmark Catalogue: Australia 1946 (M) 'K.G' Penny, read 29 Oct 2026