Inside this issue
Page 5
Year of the Horse new releases!
A sumptuous selection of Lunar tributes, our new Year of the Horse coins have been launched! Offered in Gold-plated Silver Black Proof, Silver Proof and Gold Proof versions, the mintages are tiny! Immediate action a must!
Page 7
New Silver Honey Bee sure to get market buzzing!
Exclusive, sharply detailed and literally dripping with quality, the latest tribute to the Honey Bee unites 99.9% silver, 24-carat gold-plating, and a rich, distinctive Black Proof finish! Worldwide mintage a mere 750!
Page 15
Rare Australian 1930 Exhibition Gold Medals
Representing a unique, fascinating and excessively rare piece of Australian history, this Depression Era set of Exhibition Gold Medals was awarded to one of the nation’s leading companies – pharmaceutical giants, Faulding.
Pages 22 & 23
The latest from the RAM and the Perth Mint!
A wonderful opportunity, we have a wealth of releases from the Perth Mint and the Royal Australian Mint available – including the RAM’s sensational new Steam Giants 2025 50c Colour Uncirculated 7-Coin Set! Limited stocks available!
5oz 99.9% silver! Just 888 struck!
A stunning synthesis of flawless quality, imposing dimensions and limited availability, Downies is proud to present the Lunar Year of the Horse 2026 $10 Gold-plated 5oz Silver Black Proof!
Capturing the spirited, confident nature of those born in the Year of the Horse, this masterpiece is struck from 5oz of 99.9% silver. Measuring 65mm, the expansive flan forms the consummate canvas for the eye-catching design uniting three horses – one in silver and two finished in gold. Contrasting against the Black Proof backdrop, and complemented by stylised clouds and jasmine flowers, the horses surround a central strip bearing the traditional Chinese character for horse (mǎ).
Sure to form a commanding centrepiece to any collection, the Lunar Year of the Horse 2026 $10 Gold-plated 5oz Silver Black Proof Coin is a superb presentation. Complete with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, each coin is beautifully presented within a high-gloss timber case. The perfect finishing touch, the flan is individually edge-numbered – matching the numbered Certificate of Authenticity!
With the ‘lucky’ limited edition set at just 888, you must act now. Don’t shut the gate after the horse has bolted!
Lunar Year of the Horse 2026 $10 Gold-plated 5oz Silver Black Proof Coin
5oz of 99.9% silver! Proof quality! Selectively plated in genuine gold Limited edition a mere 888 coins!
Niue legal tender: spans 65mm.
Numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Edge-numbered! Matches Certificate!
The Year of the Horse in Silver & Gold!
One of the most vibrant Lunar issues we have seen, this gold-plated 99.9% silver Black Proof is a stunning tribute to the Year of the Horse.
A triumph of numismatic art, underpinned by a razor-sharp strike, this legal tender issue captures the vivacious nature of the horse perfectly. Emerging from a bank of stylised clouds, the horse is flanked by jasmine flowers, with the Chinese character for horse (mǎ) below – struck into the coin, rather than rendered in traditional relief!
With just 888 struck, don’t spare the horses! Get cracking – order now!
1oz 99.9% silver! Gold-plating! Distinctive Black Proof quality.
Limited edition a ‘lucky’ 888 coins! Niue legal tender: spans 38.60mm. Housed in a glossy, timber case. Numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Last & First! All new presentation packs!
Attractive and affordable, this set celebrates a truly radical change in Australia’s circulating currency – the demise of the $1 note and birth of the $1 coin. Beautifully presented within a new-style pack, the set includes Uncirculated examples of the last $1 note (Johnston/Stone $1) and unique 1984 Roos $1.
Australia
Defined by Uncirculated quality, value-for-money and all new presentation, this fantastic release unites Australia’s last $5 paper note with the nation’s first $5 coin!
A bargain at $139, the Fraser/Cole $5 note and Royal Australian Mint’s 1988 Parliament $5 are set in a new, informative, illustrated pack.
Presented within a new-style pack, this affordable tribute marks the end of the $2 note series and start of the $2 coin series. The $2 note series concluded with the Johnston/Fraser $2 in the late 1980s, with the first RAM $2 struck in 1988. Both of these key issues are included in this pack –both in Uncirculated quality!
Sure to get the collector market buzzing, we are delighted to present the new Honey Bee 2025 $1 Gold-plated 1oz Silver Black Proof Coin!
Literally dripping with quality, this sharply detailed coin is struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver. Featuring a rich Black Proof finish, the flan also features the bees and their delicious honeycomb plated in gold! As exclusive as it is eye-catching, the mintage is just 750!
Don’t get caught in a sticky situation. Act now, and be one of the few to enjoy this stunning tribute to the Honey Bee!
Struck from 1oz of 99.9% silver!
Finished in real, glittering gold! Exquisite Black Proof finish. Limited edition just 750 coins!
Niue legal tender: spans 38.60mm. Numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Australia’s first national coins, and the only Australian coins of King Edward VII, this scarce set comprises the sterling silver 1910 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/-.
Highlighted by Australia’s first halfpenny and penny dates, the first King George V coinage issue also included the sterling silver 1911 3d, 6d, 1/- and 2/-.
Following a revision of the currency, the first King George VI coins (halfpenny to florin) were the first to feature different, distinctively Australian designs.
The beginning of the end for predecimal currency, the first Australian coinage issue of Elizabeth II comprised six coins from the halfpenny to the florin.
The Last & the First!
Honouring a major milestone in Australian currency history, this set unites the LAST circulation coin dates of Elizabeth II with the FIRST circulation coin dates of Charles III!
Including the Elizabeth II 2022 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 & $2, the set also features the Charles III 2023 $1 and 2024 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c & $2. Underpinned by strictly Uncirculated quality, this portfolio has a limited edition of 5,000. Act now!
Charles III 2025 $2 Aluminium-Bronze Uncirculated 25-Coin Heads/Heads or Tails/Tails RAM Mint Rollv
Charles III 2025 20c Cupro-Nickel Uncirculated 20-Coin Heads/Heads or Tails/Tails RAM Mint Roll
Australia Charles III 2025 5c Cupro-Nickel Uncirculated 40-Coin Heads/Heads or Tails/Tails RAM Mint Roll
Australia 1c-$2 Decimal Type 8-Coin Set
Australia 2022-2024 Last Queen Elizabeth II & First King Charles III Uncirculated 12-Coin Portfolio
40525
First polymer note! First Prefix!
Issued to mark 200 years of European settlement of Australia, the 1988 Bicentennial $10 was Australia’s first commemorative note, and the world’s first polymer note. One of the most important issues in global currency history, this pioneering type is a must-have for every Australian collection.
An exceptional and surprisingly affordable opportunity, this is your chance to secure one of the first notes printed as part of the second issue of the 1988 Bicentennial $10. The second issue took place after it was discovered that the first issue had a faulty security feature – the ‘Captain Cook window’, known as an Optical Variable Device.
With a tiny number of Uncirculated notes available – each distinguished by the First Prefix AB10 – you must act now.
Australia 1988 $10 R310bF Bicentennial AB10 First Prefix Uncirculated Banknote
Also available: Australia 1988 $10 R310b Johnston/Fraser Bicentenary Uncirculated Banknote (15347)
41088
Bicentennial Masterpiece!
One of the Royal Australian Mint’s most admired, most sought after collector issues, we are delighted to present the 1988 Masterpieces in Silver 4-Coin Proof Set!
The first issue of the Mint’s Masterpieces in Silver Series, the 1988 Masterpieces in Silver 4-Coin Proof Set marked the 200th anniversary of European settlement of Australia. A pioneering precious metal Proof Set, each collection comprises sterling silver versions of the 1988 Indigenous Elder & 1988 Parliament $5 (Australia’s first $2 & $5 respectively), united with the superbly designed Bicentennial 50c and $1 coins!
An important element of every Australian coin collection, we have just a few examples of the 1988 Masterpieces in Silver Set available – each presented within the official case of issue.
Trains
Australia Banjo Paterson 2020 50c The Man from Snowy River Aluminium-Bronze Uncirculated Coin
Banjo Paterson
Australia Banjo Paterson 2020 50c Clancy of the Overflow
A major landmark in our currency history, the 1970 Captain Cook 50c was Australia’s first decimal commemorative coin type. Struck by the RAM to mark 200 years since Cook charted Australia’s east coast, we have this unique type in Specimen quality!
Australian legal tender, the 1970 Captain Cook 50c carried a portrait of the famous explorer based on a painting by John Webber, who accompanied Cook on his third Pacific voyage. The work of Stuart Devlin, the 1970 Captain Cook 50c is thought to be the world’s first coin type to carry a facsimile signature as part of the design.
Struck to impeccable Specimen quality, this key coin is set within the original, official red acrylic pack of issue.
Historic, important and extremely rare
A genuine artefact of early 20th century Australian history, and an everlasting memento of one of the nation’s foremost companies, we are delighted to present this extremely rare set of gold medals from the 1930 All Australian Exhibition!
Founded by Francis Hardy Faulding in Adelaide in 1845, Faulding is synonymous with pharmaceuticals in this country, keeping Australians healthy for 180 years! An industry leader, the company’s most important innovation was the processing of eucalyptus oil as an antiseptic. Faulding’s success was based on this breakthrough, and it is for ‘Eucalyptus Oil & Derivatives’ that one of the four medals presented here was awarded!
Awarded to Faulding at the South Australian Chamber of Manufactures Inc All Australian Exhibition of 1930, each of the four medals is struck from approximately 18 grams of 9-carat gold. In ‘as struck’ condition, and notable for the handsome glossy brilliance of the golden surfaces, each individually inscribed medal is presented in the superbly preserved original box of issue.
Don’t miss this golden opportunity to secure unique, extremely rare artefacts of Australia’s commercial heritage!
An officially licensed Holden product, this collection unites 21 full-colour, 24-carat goldplated Australian pennies – each celebrating a different classic Holden car! Notable for the limited edition of just 5,000, the set is now $238 off regular retail!
A key chapter in the polymer revolution, Australia’s polymer $50 series began in 1995 – exactly 30 years ago. What better way could there be to celebrate this major milestone in our currency history than by securing an example of Australia’s very first polymer $50 note?
Scarce in top grade today, with the high denomination $50 representing too much spending power for people to casually pop aside for posterity, we have the groundbreaking 1995 Fraser/Evans polymer $50 in strictly Uncirculated quality!
Very scarce, particularly in premium grade, this set comprises all three standard Australian $50 types in strictly Uncirculated quality –signatures of our choice.
3-Note Type Set
An inventive tribute to the Year of the Snake, this set comprises four vibrant full-colour Tuvalu legal tender coins. Struck from 99.99% silver, the four coins unite to form a single interlinked design! Extremely exclusive, the mintage is a mere 1,500 sets – each presented within an official Perth Mint case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Comprising seven Australian legal tender 50c coins, this stunning tribute to the Golden Age of Australian Steam is sure to catch the eye of train lovers. Also a must-have for anyone desperate to keep their collection complete, these splendid full-colour coins will not be issued for circulation and will never be found in change! Limited edition just 35,000!
Don’t miss out! With thousands of lots ranging from numismatics to memorabilia, there’s something for everyone!
Thinking of selling?
With a 95% clearance rate and over 30,000 live bids each auction, your collection is in good hands! Auction 358 begins 28th of October! Visit auctions.downies.com to register today!
