Did you know that there are quite a few rare and unusual coins in circulation that are worth a bit of money?

One of them is a 20 cent coin minted in 1966, the year decimal currency was introduced. About half of that year's coins were minted in Australia, the rest in London. And it's a rare, small batch of these that tends to get collectors excited. 

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Once you know what you are looking for it is easy to spot. And it all comes down to what collectors describe as a "wavy baseline", thought to have been caused by a new die cast.

The way to identify the London wavy baseline 20 cent coin is to look at the bottom section of the "2" on the 1966 tail side. Normally, the horizontal base of the "2" runs straight across. But on the London wavy baseline 20 cent coin, the "2s" upper edge of the base features, you guessed it, a wave.

These things are so sought after that a banged-up version can fetch a few hundred dollars. A mint London wavy baseline is worth thousands.

So start checking your shrapnel, you never know when your luck will change. 

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