The Australian Pre-Decimal Proof coin series can be automatically split up between two distinct different series, those struck between 1955 to 1963 and those Extremely Rare issues struck prior to 1955.

Australian Proof coins struck prior to 1955 were not struck for commercial purposes but only to be kept as a premium example for the Mints Museum collection or a foreign countries Museum or alternatively specially struck in order to use for a presentation to VIP's. As a result Australian Pre 1955 Proofs are Extremely Rare with only as few as 2-3 and in most cases up to a maximum of 10 pieces available to private Collectors/Investors worldwide. Because of the ultimate Rarity as well as Ultimate Quality this area of the Australian Rare coin market has proven to be a star performer.

Pre 1955 Proofs are struck in Gold (Sovereigns , Half Sovereigns etc) as well as Silver and Copper (Australian Commonwealth Florins, Shillings, Sixpences, Threepences, Pennies and Half Pennies). The Gold issues were struck at the Sydney, Melbourne or Perth branches of the British Royal Mint. The Silver and Copper issues were only struck at the Melbourne or Perth branches only.

The second distinct area of Australian Pre-Decimal Proofs are those struck between 1955 and 1963 at both the Melbourne and Perth branches of the British Royal Mint. These were Australia's very first attempt to strike coins for commercial purposes: i.e. for sale to the infant Collector market. All these issues, were however, only issued as individual coins presented in a cellophane packet which has enabled many uneducated Collectors to open and handle the pieces and as a result to get perfect FDC coins particularly copper ones is difficult and quite deceiving in terms of their overall Rarity.

Although the mintage figure for the 1955-1963 Proofs is between 301 to 5042 of each piece, this is still tiny compared with say a 1988 modern day Proof Set with a mintage of 101,000 and with the many impaired coins out there perfect FDC coins represent good growth potential at affordable price points.