Aussie coin collector urges people to check their change for a rare 5 cent coin that is worth hundreds of times its face value

Victorian coin collector Michael McCauley has told Aussies to keep a look out for 2001 5 cent coins that feature a small mistake on the bottom of the number '5'.

Coin collectors are being urged to check their change for a rare 5 cent piece that could be worth hundreds of times its face value.

Aussie coins can be surprisingly valuable thanks to a number of details, including small errors.

Victorian coin collector Michael McCauley has told Aussies to keep a look out for 2001 5 cent coins that feature a small mistake on the bottom of the number ‘5’.

These coins are known as ‘flamingo’ error coins.

“It’s got a little bit of extra metal below the ‘5’ and it looks a little bit like a flamingo’s beak when you look at it under the right light,” McCauley shared on TikTok.

According to the Purple Penny, the ‘flamingo’ variety coin features a large die crack running from the left of the loop of the number ‘5’. When you turn the coin upside down, this makes the ‘5’ look like a flamingo.

McCauley said the rare 5 cent coins had recently sold for between $37.80 and $70. That’s up to 1,400 times the coins 5 cent face value.

“Keep your eye out for the Flamingo 2001 5 cent coin. You can also get that flamingo error on the 2002s, 2003s and 2005s, although the 2001 is probably the more common one to find,” he said.

“It’s a bit harder to find the other ones. I haven’t found any of those. I’ve just found the 2001s and pretty pumped to find those.”

Other rare 5 cent coins to look out for

While you’re checking your 5 cent coins, it’s also worth keeping an eye out for ones minted in 1972.

Coin expert Matthew Thompson of Thompsons Coins and Collectables told Yahoo Finance these coins were worth up to $100 due to their relatively small mintage.

“The mintage was just over 8 million at 8.25 million so it’s considered to be a key date for 5 cent coin collectors,” he said.

“They range from anywhere from $20 to $100.”

While 8 million might seem like a lot of coins, it is still relatively small when compared to other years for the 5 cent coin.

Error coins can also be extremely valuable finds. A 2007 double portrait 5 cent coin - which had an image of Queen Elizabeth II on both sides - was recently sold for $2,000.

The coin had been sitting in an Aussie family's home for years.

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