2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 Coin
The 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 is a circulating $1 coin with 17.2 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2008
- Circulation mintage
- 17,200,000
- Value band
- Face value
- Composition
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel)
Original illustration of the coin's shape and metal. Tap to flip. Not a picture of the actual design.
Face value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 worth?
17.2 million were made, so the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 is easy to find. A circulated one is worth face value; collectors pay a little more only for uncirculated coins.
What would make yours worth more:
- Uncirculated condition
- An original mint roll, card or set
- A genuine mint error
For market prices, look at recent sold results for the same coin in the same condition, not asking prices.
Quick answers
- Is the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 rare?
- No. 17.2 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 coins were made?
- 17,200,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 made of?
- Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel). It weighs 9 g and measures 25 mm.
- Is the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 still legal tender?
- Yes. Every $1 coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 was made
Scouting began in Britain in 1907, when Robert Baden-Powell held an experimental camp for boys on Brownsea Island. The movement spread around the world almost immediately. The first Scout groups in Australia formed in 1908. A century later Scouts Australia had generations of members behind it, from young Joeys to adult leaders. The Royal Australian Mint marked the centenary with a commemorative $1. Scouting aims to build skills, confidence and community service through outdoor activities. Those values have changed little in a hundred years.
The coin was issued in 2008 for the centenary year and went out into general circulation. Its circulation mintage was 17,200,000. Many Scout groups and collectors set examples aside during the centenary year. The Scouting dollar was later joined by the 2010 dollar for the centenary of Girl Guiding, so the two youth movements have matching coins. Many former Scouts keep one as a memento. The coin is also a good starting point for anyone interested in youth organizations or in the history of community groups in Australia. It also shows how the Mint used the dollar to honor community organizations as well as national events.
How to recognize it
The reverse is built around the emblem of Scouts Australia, which draws on the fleur-de-lis badge used by Scouts around the world. The emblem sits at the center of the coin. The lettering marks the centenary of Scouting in Australia with the years 1908 and 2008 and gives the value, ONE DOLLAR. The obverse carries Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 2008 in the legend. The format follows the everyday $1, at 25 mm and 9 g of aluminum bronze with an interrupted milled edge. The Scout emblem identifies it straight away. Read the lettering around the rim if the emblem is worn, since it names the centenary and gives both years in full. If your 2008 dollar shows kangaroos instead, you have the regular design.
2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 by the numbers
By the numbers, the 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1 ranks 15th lowest of 27 circulating $1 coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 2021 Donation Dollar $1 (12.9 million); the next more common is the 1993 Landcare $1 (18.2 million).
For scale, the most common is the 2002 Year of the Outback $1 with 35.4 million, about 2.1 times as many. The scarcest is the 2016 50 Years of Decimal Currency $1 with 560,000, 31 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative $1 coin dated 2008.
What to check on your 2008 Centenary of Scouting $1
- Confirm the design and date: Centenary of Scouting dated 2008.
- Check the shape and size: the $1 is round, 25 mm across, gold-colored and weighs 9 g.
- Look at the surfaces under a light. Coins from mint rolls or sets have unbroken luster; change-worn coins show scuffs on the high points.
- Never clean it. Polishing leaves fine scratches and an unnatural shine that collectors avoid.
At 17.2 million, this is a common coin and circulated examples are face value. Uncirculated coins from mint sets and rolls are the best preserved and can bring a small premium. The emblem is a raised shape, so wear shows as flattening on its highest points. Look for a coin with crisp lettering around the rim and even golden color. It's a fine coin to pair with the 2010 Girl Guiding dollar. Coins taken from circulation are usually darkened and scratched, so they're best kept as souvenirs. For a collection, start with an example from a roll and store it in a holder away from damp.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 2008 |
| Circulation mintage | 17,200,000 |
| Composition | Aluminum bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milling |
Frequently asked questions
What does the 2008 Scouting $1 show?
It shows the emblem of Scouts Australia, which draws on the fleur-de-lis badge of world Scouting. Lettering marks the centenary of Scouting in Australia from 1908 to 2008, when the first Scout groups formed here.
Is the 2008 Centenary of Scouting dollar rare?
No. The circulation mintage was 17,200,000, so circulated coins are face value. Uncirculated coins from mint sets and rolls are the most desirable and can carry a small premium. Worn coins are best kept as souvenirs.
Mintage figures: Australian one-dollar coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.