australia: October 2009

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 This $10 Portrait set was a failure at that time and the series was later withdrawn as it was not popular among collectors.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"

31 October 2009

.Australia - 2008 Reprints Last Prefixes Full Set

Australia

2008 Last Prefix Set $5 to $100

It is exciting time again for Australian polymer collectors to see that for the first time since 1999 we have a complete set of polymer notes released from the 2008 prints. The 2008 release is also the first time that we have both the signatures of Governor Glenn Stevens and the Secretary to the Treasure Dr Ken Henry appeared on all 5 denominations. The last time a $100 note was issued was back in 1999. Like all notes printed since 2002, the new $100 is also modified to include the names of both Sir John Monash and Dame Nellie Melba imprinted on the note. Needless to say this note will get a new reference catalogue number.

In Australia, the first and last prefix notes are well sought after by most collectors. Whilst it is believed that most letter prefixes are printed approx. between 500,000 to one million pieces each, it has come to our attention that less than 50,000 pieces of the $50 last prefix were printed for the 2008 run. With such a low quantity printed for the $50 note last prefix, hopefully we will see the value of this note appreciated faster than any other first and last prefix notes printed for the 2008 series.

18 October 2009

Australia Five Dollars Federation Note Knowing Your Note

Denomination: $5 Federation Note
Date of first release: 1 January 2001
Designer: Garry Emery
Size: 65 mm x 130 mm

Stories Behind The Faces

Obverse

Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896) has often been referred to as the “Father of Federation”. An early advocate of reform, he gave the federation movement new impetus with his call for a federated Australia at Tenterfield in 1889. Parkes presided over the first national Australasian Convention in Sydney in 1891, where a Constitution Bill was drafted for submission to the Parliaments. A powerful but ageing figures, Parkes died four years before Federation came about.

Reverse

Catherine Helen Spence (1825-1910) was a journalist, social reformer and novelist, and a prominent supporter of electoral reform. She stood for election as a South Australian candidate for the Australasian Federal Convention of 1897, to emphasise the issue of proportional parliamentary representation. Spence did not gain a place at the Convention but achieved fame as the first woman to stand for election to public office in Australia. She believed that the highest goal to which a united Australia could aspire was the truly democratic representation of all it’s people.

Australia Five Dollars Knowing Your Note

Denomination: $5
Date of first release: 7 July 1992
Designer: Bruce Steward, Chief Designer of NPA
Size: 65 mm x 130 mm

Design Behind The Note

Obverse

The portrait of Queen Elizabeth the Second. The design of the portrait came from a photograph taken by John Lawrence. Other features of the notes are; -
* Foreground Printing Main Design Features – A slightly raised print that can be felt with the fingers is used for the Queen’s portrait, gum leaves, denomination (numeral and words), legal tender clause, and ‘AUSTRALIA”;
* Background Printing – Multi-coloured, fine-line patterns appear on each side of the note, in flat printing;
* Micro Printing – The words “FIVE DOLLARS” are carefully printed in very small letters and, under magnification, are clearly and sharply defined;
* Coat of Arms – The Australian Coat of Arm can be seen beneath the printing when the note is held up to the light;
* When the note is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed, by four points on one side of the note, combining perfectly with three points on the other.

Reverse

The main design of the note is the new Australia Parliament on Capital Hill in Canberra. The new Parliament was opened by Queen Elizabeth ll on 9 May 1988. The design also includes the landscape plan of the Parliament building as well as the old Parliament at the bottom of the note. The old parliament was opened in 1927.
Other features are; -
* A gum flower can be seen from either side of the note. It is surrounded by a transparent area;
* A slight raised print that can be felt with the fingers is used for Parliament House, landscape plan, geometric shapes, denomination numeral and “AUSTRALIA”.

The recoloured $5 note (brighter in colour) was released on 24 April 1995.

Australia Ten Dollars Knowing Your Note

Denomination: $10
Date of first release: 1 November 1993
Designer: Max Robinson
Size: 65 mm x 137 mm

Stories Behind The Faces

Obverse

Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson was born on 17 February 1864 in Narranbla, New South Wales. Paterson was a famous bush poet, balladist and journalist. During his life time, he wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing mainly on the rural areas. Paterson was perhaps best remembered for his works on ‘Waltzing Matilda and “The Man from Snowy River. Paterson died on 5 February 1941 in Sydney aged 76.

Reverse

Dame Mary Jean Gilmore DBE was born on 16 August 1865 at Cotta Walla near Goulburn, New South Wales. Gilmore was a poet, patriot and tireless campaigner against injustice and deprivation in many fields, including the treatment of Aborigines, women, children, old and sick people, and returned servicemen. In 1937, she was awarded the Odere of the British Empire. Gilmore died in 1962 aged 97. In 1973 she was honoured on a postage stamp bearing her portrait issued by the Australian Post.

Other features
* A windmill can be seen from either side. It is surrounded by a transparent area;
* On one side of the note, excerpts from the poem “The Man from Snowy River” are micro-printed in the area surrounding ‘Banjo” Paterson’s portrait. Between each stanza are the words “Ten Dollars”;
* Slightly-raised printing, which can be felt with your fingers, is used for selected parts of the design such as the portraits of Dame Mary Gilmore and “Banjo” Paterson, the word “Australia” and the numeral “10”;
* On the other side, excerpts from the poem “No foe shall gather our harvest” are micro printed around the portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore, with the words “Ten Dollars” repeated between each stanza;
* When the note is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed, by four points on one side of the note, combining perfectly with three points on the other.

Australia Twenty Dollars Knowing Your Note

Denomination: $20
Date of first release: 31 October 1994
Designer: Gary Emery
Size: 65 mm x 144 mm

Stories Behind The Faces

Obverse

Mary Reibey who came to the colony of New South Wales in October 1792 as a convict barely 15 years-old. At the age of 17 she married Thomas Reibey who became a successful businessman in cargo and shipping. When Thomas Reibey died in 1811 Mary assumed sole responsibility for his numerous enterprises as well as caring for their seven children. By then a wealthy woman, she continued to expand her business interests, acquiring extensive property holdings (including a building in George Street Sydney, featured on the note) and extending her shipping operations, (the ‘Mercury”, one of her ship, is also depicted on the note). Mary also gained wide respect for her numerous charity works and interest in the church and education. She died in 1855.

Reverse

Reverend John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, who was instrumental in setting up the Australian Inland Mission. Keenly aware of the isolation of people living in inland Australia, Flynn believed that a “mantle of safety” could be created by the establishment of an aerial metical services and by the introduction of radio communication. Depicted on the note is a stylized pedal ireless and a medical body chart used by people of the outback to describe by radio the location of an illness or injury. Despite many set backs, Flynn’s dream became a reality. In 1928, the DeHavilland 50 aircraft “Victory” as shown on the note) answered the first call received by the Aerial Medical Service, which was later to become known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. Flynn’s vision finally led to the establishment of thirteen flying doctors based around Australia which today spread a “mantle of safety” across 6.9 millions square kilometers or 80% of the Australian continent. Flynn died in 1951.

Other features
* Clear window surrounding a printed image of a compass;
* Raised print, which can be felt, is used for the portrait;
* Microprinting incorporated in the design on either side of the note;
* Intricate multi coloured, fine line patterns;
* When the note is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed; and the Australian Coat of Arms is visible underneath other printing, similar to a watermark on paper notes.

Australia Fifty Dollars Knowing Your Note

Donomination: $50
Date of first release: 4 November 1995
Designer: Brian Sadgrove
Size: 65 mm x 151 mm

Stories Behind The Faces

Obverse

David Unaipon was an inventor and Australia first published Aboriginal writer. A Ngarrindjeri man, Unaipon was born at the Point McLeay Mission in South Australian 1872, the fourth of nine children. An avid reader, he displayed a tremendous thirst for knowledge from an early age. He researched many engineering problems leading to a number of his own inventions – the best known being an improved handpiece for shearing, which he patented in 1909. He believed that the aerodynamics of the boomerang could be applied to aircraft and predicted the development of the helicopter. In 1920’s, Unaipon became the first Aboriginal writer to be published, and many of his early articles and other writings were included in “Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals” in 1930. Other articles, poetry and legends by Unaipon were published through the following decades. Unaipon was a prominent spokesperson for Aboriginal people. He influenced government policy, spoke out against racism and for equal rights and “sympathetic co-operation” between whites and blacks. Unaipon was awarded a Coronation Medal in 1953 for his achievements. He died in 1969.

Reverse

Edith Cowan is best remembered as a social worker and the first female member of an Australian Parliament. She was born in 1861, at Glengarry near Geraldton in Western Australia. After a tragic childhood, Edith Dircksey Brown married James Cowan in 1879. Her husband’s work as a police magistrate gave her insights to the problem of women and children at that time. Throughout her life, she was involved in many voluntary organisations and worked towards important reforms for women, children and migrants. She was a firm believer in the power of education. In 1909 she helped found the Women’s Service Guild, which advocated equal rights of citizenship for men and women. Cowan was also a founding member of the Children’s Protection Society, which was instrumental in establishing day nurseries and the Children’s Court. She was one of the first women appointed to the bench of this Court in 1915. In 1921, Cowan was elected to the Legislative Assembly in Western Australia, becoming Australia first female parliamentarian. In 1923, she introduced the Women’s Legal Status Act, enabling women to enter civil office and practice law. For her various activities, including her role with the Red cross during World War l, she was awarded the OBE in 1920. Cowan died in 1932. In recent time, a federal electorate and university have been named after her.

Other features
* The clear window, which is slighter larger than the $5, $10 and $20, has a stylized image of the Southern Cross printed in it, along with embossing of the number “50”;
* When the back of the note is looked at under ultraviolet light, the two serial numbers – one printed in blue, the other in black – fluoresce, and the number “50” in a patch becomes visible;
* The orientation bands on the top and bottom of the note are intended to assist in note sorting.
* When the note is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed, by four points on one side of the note, combining perfectly with three points on the other.

Australia One Hundred Dollars Knowing Your Note

Donomination: $100
Date of first release: 15 May 1996
Designer: Bruce Stewart
Size: 65 mm x 158 mm

Stories Behind The Faces

Obverse

Dame Nellie Melba was born Helen Porter Mitchellon 19 May 1861 in Richmond, Melbourne. Her father was a good hass vocalist and her mother her first music teacher, but it was her first singing teacher, Pietro Cecchi, who is credited with urging her to make singing her life’s work. After traveling to Europe in 1886, she adopted the stage name “Melba”, a contraction of the name of her native city. She made a triumphant operatic debut as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto in Brussels, on 13 October 1887. She went on to perform leading operatic roles in London, Paris, New York and other major cities. Although she toured the world, Dame Nellie always regarded Australia as her home. She found time for many civic activities, including support of the Red Cross, raising funds for war charities, teaching at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (now the Melba memorial Conservatorium of Music), and touring remote country areas. She was appointed a DBE in 1918 and a GBE in 1927. Dame Nellie Melba died in Sydney in 1931.

Reverse

Sir John Monash, soldier, engineer and administrator, was acknowledged for his outstanding leadership qualities in both military and civilian life. In World war l, he served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. His greatest victory was at Hamel, in France, involving the collaboration of infantry, artillery, tanks and aircrafts; it was described as “the prefect battle”. This inspired a succession of victories, leading to the breaking of the Hindenburg line. Monash was knighted in 1918. After the war he led the State Electricity Commission of Victoria for 10 years until his death in 1931. An estimated 150,000 mourners attended his funeral. Monash University in Melbourne was name after him in 1958.

Other features
* The clear window which has a stylized image of a lyrebird printed in it, along with embossing of the number “100”;
* Raised printing that can be felt on the portraits and other major design elements, blocks of the words “ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS” in micro-printing on each side of the note, and intricate multi-coloured fine line patterns and images;
* The orientation bands on the top and bottom of the note are intended to assist in note sorting;
* When the reverse side of the note is viewed under ultraviolet light, the two serial numbers – one printed in brown, the other in green – fluoresce, and the number “100” in a patch becomes visible;
* When the note is held up to the light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed, by four points on one side of the note, combining perfectly with three points on the other.