Will my Australian money pay for a trip? a Mickey head ice cream? a wish?

[aboveH20]

While clearing out my mother's house I came across money my pen pal from Australia sent me years ago. My son is thinking of going to New Zealand for his birthday next year and I found out the two countries have separate money (think Canada and US).

I'm assuming the money isn't worth much, but can an Australian please confirm that for me? Photo isn't very good. Looks like I have two (GIANT) pennies, two half pennies, and a three pence. Should I start packing or just make a wish. (Wish they were worth more )

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Your coins cannot be used in the US. They aren't really worth anything. Australia stopped using the pence in 1966.

Australia and New Zealand are two different countries, not joined in any economic union. Naturally they use different currency!

 

[aboveH20]

Your coins cannot be used in the US. They aren't really worth anything. Australia stopped using the pence in 1966.

Australia and New Zealand are two different countries, not joined in any economic union. Naturally they use different currency!

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I knew I couldn't use the money in the US, I was wondering if it was worth enough that my son might be able to use it. I know New Zealand and Australia have different currencies, but didn't know if he'd be able to use it on his trip. I live it a state that borders Canada and sometimes it's possible to "mingle" the two currencies, expecially near the border.

I hate to just throw the money out, but it doesn't seem like it's useful so off it goes.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I guess I am confused; there aren't too many things you can buy for a few pennies!

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I knew I couldn't use the money in the US, I was wondering if it was worth enough that my son might be able to use it. I know New Zealand and Australia have different currencies, but didn't know if he'd be able to use it on his trip. I live it a state that borders Canada and sometimes it's possible to "mingle" the two currencies, expecially near the border.

I hate to just throw the money out, but it doesn't seem like it's useful so off it goes.

The Australian $ to US $ exchange rate is approximately equal give or take $0.10.


It is a few pennies.

If the grading was better they might be worth something as a collector. The three pence coin could have been minted in the USA.

 

[aboveH20]

I guess I am confused; there aren't too many things you can buy for a few pennies!

Exactly! That was the point of my starting this thread. I wanted to know what the money was worth -- didn't know if Australian pennies were as worthless as American pennies.

The Australian $ to US $ exchange rate is approximately equal give or take $0.10.


It is a few pennies.

If the grading was better they might be worth something as a collector. The three pence coin could have been minted in the USA.

Thanks for the complete reply. I haven't traveled a lot, but enough to know not to assume anything about anything. While I didn't think something called a penny could be worth much more than an American penny, I still hoped.

And, baring that I was hoping they were worth something to a collector, but as you pointed out their condition is rather lacking.

It's still hard to just toss them out.

 

[Random Ninja]

I wouldn't just toss them out. Why not clean them up, put them in a little display box and give them to a local elementary school teacher. Most kids I know love to look at money, and anything else really, from other countries.

 

[aboveH20]

I wouldn't just toss them out. Why not clean them up, put them in a little display box and give them to a local elementary school teacher. Most kids I know love to look at money, and anything else really, from other countries.

That's a good idea. I HATE to throw anything out, and since I'm in the process of clearing out the house my mother lived in for 62 years, I'm coming across a lot of neat stuff -- including the money from my Australian pen pal!

 

[bumbershoot]

Will his flight take him through Sydney? When DH flew to NZ he did go through Sydney. If he is, and if there's a bit of time between flights, he could use them on...something. Hmm, I don't think they have a tipping culture there so my idea of putting them in a tip jar is probably not a good one.

Kids love coins, that's for sure. DS has two jars full from DH's travels!

 

[Jaya]

I got all excited last month when I found a Jamaican $10 coin in my change. Woo-hoo.....until I found out it was only worth about 12 cents. Sigh.

 

[elphaba91]

Alas, your son won't be able to use those coins for a couple of reasons:

1. You technically can't use Australian currency in NZ, although there are some coins that look almost identical so you can sometimes get away with it (I've come across many 20c coins here that have a kiwi on them instead of a platypus). However, those aren't those coins, because...
2. Those coins aren't even accepted in Australia. We changed to decimal currency on 14 February 1966 and they got rid of the pounds, shillings and pence (which includes your pennies, ha'pennies and threepence). Technically they might still be legal tender (I know the 1 and 2 cent coins they scrapped a few years ago are), but I'm positive that no shop would take them. You could possibly exchange them at the bank for a 5 cent coin...which also wouldn't get you anything...maybe a musk stick at a milkbar!

That being said, your coins mightn't be totally worthless! If they were cleaned up you could possibly get a couple of dollars for them at a collector's shop, depending on the year, condition, etc. And you can always use the threepence in your plum pudding at Christmas as it's nontoxic, unlike our new coins (I use sixpences in mine)!

 

[mimmi]

Just for info if you ever come across foreign money again :

http://www.oanda.com/lang/de/currency/converter/

 

[usnuzuloose]

Don't throw them out. DH loves to collect money from different places.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

While clearing out my mother's house I came across money my pen pal from Australia sent me years ago. My son is thinking of going to New Zealand for his birthday next year and I found out the two countries have separate money (think Canada and US).

I'm assuming the money isn't worth much, but can an Australian please confirm that for me? Photo isn't very good. Looks like I have two (GIANT) pennies, two half pennies, and a three pence. Should I start packing or just make a wish. (Wish they were worth more )

Hi those coins are worth more than there face value they are no longer used in Australia check out eBay and here is a website that can show you what they can be worth although yours are circulated.


http://www.aussiecoins.com/pennies.htm