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March 7, 2009
1967 ACR Pattern Goose Dollar (Swan dollar)
Australia 1967 ACR Pattern Goose Dollar
The swan pattern dollar is not an official issue, although it does hold an important part in Australia's numismatic history. It has been nicknamed the "Goose dollar" by collectors and has risen in popularity in the past few years.
When decimal currency was to be introduced in 1966, collectors were surprised to learn that a one dollar coin would not be included in the new issues. So, in 1965 the Australian Coin Review magazine ran a competition and the winning entry submitted to the Australian government. When this coin was rejected by the authorities, competition organizers decided to have it minted privately .
In 1967 it was engraved and struck by John Pinches medallists of London. The design, by Andor Meszaros features a swan with Australia 1967 on the obverse and wattle with 100 (cents) printed on the reverse. On the obverse (swan side) at approximately 4 o'clock right next to the rim are the designers initials which may be mistaken as a scuff on the coin surface.
There were 1500 specimen uncirculated silver coins issued that featured a milled edge, 750 proof pieces with a plain edge and 10 gold with the plain edge. The silver proof was originally available at $13.50 while the silver uncirculated examples were $10. It is believed 2 of the gold coins were lost in the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983 (John Gartner collection) so it could be said that there are only 8 in existence. John's house at Mount Macedon in Victoria was destroyed with the coins along with the actual dies used to strike the coins. All coins were originally issued in a maroon coloured case inscribed with "Australian Pattern Crown" inside the lid and in the case for the proofs, the word "proof" was added.
McDonald's catalogue (2009) value for these coins is currently $925 for the spec.unc (issued at $10), $975 for the silver proof ($13.50 issue price) and $12,000 for the gold proof. Personally I have never seen a gold type up for sale so it's rarity might see it achieve a much higher figure if there was one offered for sale.
Update: A gold goose dollar sold on eBay in July 2009 for $12, 500.
Posted by harrisk at March 7, 2009 4:29 PM
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