2001 Five Cent Small Head - PCGS MS67

Australia, 2001 Five Cent Small Head -

If you’re familiar with the five cent pieces, you’ll know that there are two distinct types of obverses on the 2001 five cent. According to decimal coin expert Dr Peter Andrews, a majority of 2001 five cent pieces found in change are of the small head type, while the so-called large head type is found primarily in the mint set of that year. As a consequence, the small head type is difficult to source in high grade, as most of the issue, if not all, was released into circulation. Conversely, the large head type exists almost exclusively in high grade through the tens of thousands of 2001 mint sets issued that year. Through his website (found at www.thesandpit.net), Dr Andrews explains the differences between the types, and it’s worth a look if you’re interested in learning more about them. The coin photographed above is graded PCGS MS67 and could be scarce. Only time will tell how many examples of this variety have been preserved since they were issued twelve years ago.