australia polymer banknotes

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2019 - Here I have a complete collection of all Australian polymer notes (single note) issued since 1988, including all commemorative / numismatic notes, joint issues and special serial numbered issues. The only set that I do not have, at the moment, is the 1998 $10 Portraits AA98/AB98 (with or without frame). This $10 Portrait set was a failure at that time and the series was later withdrawn as it was not popular among collectors. The price was not right then for me too and that was why I didn't buy them. It was the NPA intention then to release all portrait sets on a yearly basis starting with the $10 note and collectors were also given the opportunity to get them all with matching serial numbers too. Unfortunately this was not to be the case.

* Australian banknotes are also the official currency of Christmas Island, Norfolk Islands, Keeling and Cocos Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu. The Australian banknotes were also once circulating as an official currency of Hebrides (Vanuatu), Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands prior to gaining independence. *

"no borrowed scans here nor i cut and pasted from other web sites. all notes posted here are all mine"

25 December 1997

.Australia - Polymer Notes with Wavy Edges


Did You Know?

Don't you hate it that the polymer note in the folder goes wavy almost immediately when you have it removed out of the folder?

Right up to 1996, all notes (NPA folders, joint ventured commemorative sets etc) were all issued in a special folder protected by a plastic sleeve. The note is placed in the sleeve in such a manner that the bottom edge is usually stuck to the glue that holds the sleeves together. It is common knowledge that if you try to remove the note from the sleeve by force, the edge on the note will almost go wavy or crimps immediately. The wave created on the edge is very unique and it looks more like tiny little equal steps like a flat staircase or it looks like those white keys on a piano. This only affects approximately 5mm deep from the edge of the note. I believe this was due to some chemical reactions between the glue and the plastic note. Once that happens, there is no way you can fix this. The only way to avoid such a problem was to remove the note from the folder immediately when it was first issued or if you were lucky, the note was not touching any of the glue on the sleeve.

You can just leave the note in the original folder, however if you still want to have it removed, follow these simple steps:

1) Remove the note gently from the folder. Do not forcefully rip it out like you are tearing a sheet of plastic. This will only stretch the edge of the polymer note;
2) Immediately place the note in a single banknote sleeve or holder;
3) Sandwich the note with say two strong cardboard. I find using rulers the best. Place bulldog clips over the wavy edge along the note. The cardboard or rulers are to protect the note from any damages or indented marks created from the clips; 
4) Leave the note and just wait. Depending on how wavy the edge is, you may have to leave it as long as you can. In my case, I sometimes leave it for months or even longer;
5) If you have previously removed the note and did nothing, this method may not work, as the wave may have already settled in.

Unless you bought the folder note new and have it removed immediately, it would be hard to avoid such notes. Most dealers or even collectors would just keep the note in the folder and only found out when they decided to have it removed. To me, I personally consider this kind of note as damaged.

All folder notes issued since 1997 do not have this problem. It should be noted that this does not have any effect on any of the paper folder notes issued in any given year. Try it. If it works, great. If not, you still have your money with you LOL! If you know a better way to overcome this common problem, please do share it with me.