Sterling & Currency

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Sterling & Currency Dealers in Rare Coins and Banknotes We buy, sell and appraise rare coins, notes and medals.

We specialise in Australian coins and banknotes, from the Holey Dollar of 1813 right through to the latest coin sets. If you'd like to turn all or part of your collection into cash, get in touch with our expert staff and we'll be happy to start working on a deal with you.

🔍 Thirty years in rare coins changes how you look at value.Andrew Crellin has been a professional numismatist for 30 yea...
07/10/2026

🔍 Thirty years in rare coins changes how you look at value.

Andrew Crellin has been a professional numismatist for 30 years. That experience helps him identify what you have clearly before discussing what it might be worth.

Where that experience came from:

🪙 He spent two years at the Perth Mint at the start of his career, and later appraised the Mint’s own archival collection.
🪙 He worked for more than a decade with two of Australia’s leading numismatic dealers in Sydney.
🪙 He wrote two books on Australian coins, one published by the Perth Mint and launched at the Sydney Mint, the other by the Powerhouse Museum.
🪙 He has consulted to both the Perth Mint and the Royal Australian Mint, and is recognised through the Australasian Numismatic Dealers Association.

Since opening Sterling & Currency in Fremantle in 2006, Andrew has put that experience to work with a straightforward aim: give people as much information as they need to make the decision to buy or sell.

The most useful part? You get the information first, and the decision stays yours.

Meet Andrew and learn more about Sterling & Currency.

Do you remember the piece that started your collection? We recently shared the story of how our founder, Andrew Crellin...
20/09/2026

Do you remember the piece that started your collection?

We recently shared the story of how our founder, Andrew Crellin, first found his way into the world of numismatics before going on to become ANDA President.

Those days are worth looking back on because, for many of us, the beginning of a lifelong passion isn’t about the rarest or most expensive item. It’s usually a simple curiosity, a cherished gift from a grandparent, or a fascinating pre-decimal penny found tucked away in a desk drawer.

Whether you’ve been collecting for decades or you’ve recently inherited a family collection and are starting to learn about its history, there’s almost always a foundational piece. The one that made you look at currency not just as money, but as a piece of history.

What was your first coin or banknote, and how did it come to you? 🪙

What was in an Australian pocket before Australia had its own coins? 🔍 In early settlement, money was whatever came off ...
09/09/2026

What was in an Australian pocket before Australia had its own coins? 🔍

In early settlement, money was whatever came off the ships. Foreign coins from wherever the last vessel had sailed from, and when those ran short, private tokens and IOUs.

Here’s a brief look at a few milestones that shaped the money in our ancestors’ pockets:

🪙 The 1813 Holey Dollar and Dump: To prevent silver coins from leaving on departing ships, Governor Macquarie famously purchased Spanish silver dollars and punched out their centres. This created two distinct, locally regulated coins that had to stay in the colony.

🪙 Merchants and private tokens: During severe coin shortages, local businesses, grocers and drapers among them, stepped in by issuing their own copper tokens so everyday trade could continue. The 1850 penny came from Davies Alexander, a Goulburn store.

🪙 Banks and their own paper: Private banks did the same with notes. The Excelsior Bank in Sydney printed its own one pound note, shown above.

🪙 The shift to the British system: Eventually the official standard became British currency, and we began striking gold sovereigns locally at branches of the Royal Mint. Sydney was already at it by 1896, as the sovereign above shows, and the Perth Mint officially opened in 1899.

The most surprising detail? When Australia finally federated in 1901, the new nation still relied on British coins. It wasn’t until 1910 that Australia issued its very own official national coinage.

Which part of Australia’s currency history surprised you most?

“How do you know if a coin is actually worth something?” is one of the most common questions we hear. And honestly, it’s...
20/08/2026

“How do you know if a coin is actually worth something?” is one of the most common questions we hear. And honestly, it’s a fair one.

Most people inherit or discover coins with no idea where to start. Here’s what actually determines value:

1️⃣ The condition: a coin in near-perfect, uncirculated condition can be worth multiples of one that looks identical but has seen wear. Grade matters enormously.

2️⃣ Its rarity: how many were originally minted? How many have survived? A coin struck in the millions is a different proposition to one with a mintage of a few thousand.

3️⃣ The mintmark: the small letter on a coin indicates which mint produced it (Perth, Melbourne, Sydney). Some mintmarks are far scarcer than others, and that scarcity is reflected in the value.

4️⃣ Its Demand: value is set by what collectors are willing to pay. Some coins are rare but quietly so. Others are actively sought, and that demand drives prices up.

If you have coins at home and aren’t sure where to begin, our valuation page breaks it all down in plain language. No jargon, no pressure, just the information you need to understand what you’re working with.

Comment VALUATION, and we’ll send you the direct link, or contact us directly via our website if you’d prefer a conversation with Andrew or someone else on our team.

20 years ago, Andrew had one simple belief: Australians deserved a rare coin expert who was actually on their side.Not a...
11/08/2026

20 years ago, Andrew had one simple belief: Australians deserved a rare coin expert who was actually on their side.

Not a dealer who’d lowball an estate, or a pawnbroker who’d rush you through the door. A genuine expert, with the credentials to back it up and the patience to explain every step.

That belief is what built Sterling and Currency.

Over three decades, Andrew has become one of Australia’s most respected numismatists. He served as President of the Australasian Numismatic Dealers Association (ANDA), has published works on Australian coins and banknotes, and has helped thousands of Australians understand what they actually hold and what it’s worth.

The goal hasn’t changed. Fair appraisals. Written guarantees. No pressure.

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the person behind the appraisals, click the link in our bio to learn Andrew’s full history, credentials, and recognition in the industry 🔗

In 2015, Andrew wrote about the $1 World War II Poppy Coin. He thought its low mintage could make it a future winner. On...
14/07/2026

In 2015, Andrew wrote about the $1 World War II Poppy Coin. He thought its low mintage could make it a future winner. One reader took note, bought two, and has held onto them ever since.

Just honest analysis from someone who has spent 30 years in this industry.

They recently wrote to us and said, “Your newsletters are always very informative. I will always remember and thank you for the one you wrote in 2015 about the newly released $1 World War II Poppy Coin and how you thought its low mintage could be a future winner. I purchased 2 based on your post and how very right you were. I still have both.”

That’s the kind of insight we aim to share with everyone who follows along. If you want honest insights like this delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Sterling Currency newsletter via the link in our bio 🔗

Cleaning your coins will destroy their value! We know that sounds counterintuitive, but it’s one of the most common mist...
01/07/2026

Cleaning your coins will destroy their value!

We know that sounds counterintuitive, but it’s one of the most common mistakes collectors make.

When you clean a coin, you scrub away its natural patina. To a collector or a grader, that patina is proof of age and authenticity. Without it, a coin worth thousands can drop to a fraction of that.

If you are sorting your collection, don’t worry about making the items look presentable for us. We’re always happy to help you understand exactly what the value of your collection is, dust, patina, and all.

Have you ever cleaned a coin, or stopped yourself just in time? Let us know below 🪙

Only one coin has ever been graded higher ⭐ This 1900 Perth Veiled Head Half Sovereign marks the historic debut of half-...
15/06/2026

Only one coin has ever been graded higher ⭐

This 1900 Perth Veiled Head Half Sovereign marks the historic debut of half-sovereign production at the Perth Mint. While a modest 120,000 were minted at the time, finding an example that escaped the heavy wear-and-tear of everyday pockets is the ultimate challenge for collectors.

That is exactly why this particular piece stands out to Andrew. It has been preserved beautifully for over a century, earning a choice Mint State grade of PCGS MS62.

At Sterling Currency, a piece of this calibre comes with our unconditional written guarantee of authenticity and grade, giving you total confidence in its long-term asset value.

For a serious collector tracking local heritage and world-class rarity, it’s a museum-quality centrepiece.

We’re excited to announce that we have a new PDF download guide: Selling a Large Collection of Coins! 🪙Sorting through a...
03/06/2026

We’re excited to announce that we have a new PDF download guide: Selling a Large Collection of Coins! 🪙

Sorting through an inherited estate or a family accumulation of coins and banknotes can be overwhelming, so to help remove the guesswork from the process, we have published a straightforward, transparent guide.

Written by Sterling Currency founder Andrew Crellin, this guide walks you through the evaluation process step-by-step. No pressure, no aggressive dealer tactics, just straightforward advice from Perth’s leading specialists to help you understand the true market value of your family’s assets.

Comment GUIDE, and we’ll send you the direct link! 🔗

You shouldn’t need a PhD in history just to figure out what an inherited coin collection is actually worth.When managing...
18/05/2026

You shouldn’t need a PhD in history just to figure out what an inherited coin collection is actually worth.

When managing an estate or dusting off an old album, the rare coin market can feel incredibly confusing. It’s perfectly natural to feel a bit out of your depth, especially when logic suggests that older items should be more valuable.

The truth is, understanding Australian rare coins and banknotes comes down to a few very specific details.

We believe in complete transparency and removing the stress from the valuation process. That’s why our founder, Andrew Crellin, has put together a straightforward Layman’s Guide to help you sort the “treasure” from the “trash” without the stress.

🔗 Click the link in our bio to access the guide!

Address

22/27-35 William Street
Fremantle, WA
6160

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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