Country overview

Polymer overview

General information

Australia is the first country in the world to fully convert to polymer bank notes. As of 15.05.96, all denominations of Australian currency in circulation were polymer (paper banknotes still circulated and were being withdrawn).

Important changes to the design of regular issue notes (S3 to S7) have been made in 2002: (1) full names of the persons depicted on the notes have been added; (2) Governor's signature has been moved above the Secretary to the Treasury's signature; (3) signature changed to Macfarlane-Henry.

Reserve Bank of Australia

Where more notes are listed under the same reference/price, price is given for the most common variety—special, first, and last prefixes usually command a premium, as do folders, uncut notes, etc.

For up-to-date prices of Australian collectors' issues refer to specialised dealers or catalogues of Australian bank notes, such as McDonalds.

Introduction to the Australian collectors' issues

A large number of collectors' issues has been produced by NPA and the RBA, and it is nearly impossible to list all issues comprehensively. Different reference works assume different approaches to the listing of Australian collectors' issues. Owing to the complexity and diversity of collectors' issues, all of them fail to produce a comprehensive and easy-to-understand reference.

This web site provides a complete overview of all Australian polymer bank note issues, their varieties and sub-varieties. Straus reference explains how we assign reference numbers. The kind of listing and assigning reference numbers that is employed here has a drawback of breaking the folders or sets of notes of different denominations—this is a risk consciously taken. Most of the other reference works on Australian bank notes list the folders and sets grouped together and you have a choice of both approaches.

Click on the icon (opens a new window) to access additional information about specific bank note varieties and sub-varieties. As a helpful feature, all collectors' issues are marked by a pale orange background colour in the charts. When a certain variety of a bank note has been issued as a regular circulating note and as a collectors' issue (without any significant differences between the two, except for, perhaps, serial number prefix or range), normal white background is retained (as is with proof and specimen notes).

A total of seven specimen notes exist for Australia S1 to S7. S7S1 was the last specimen note produced (in 1996) and no specimen notes have been printed subsequently.

Bank notes

S1R1 has been issued on 27.01.88, but the issue ceased within days as the Cook's image (OVD) was found to be easily removed. The clear window on this note has a dull, flat appearance, with a thin, smooth varnish over the OVD, which rapidly rubbed off when used. S1R2 has been issued in October 1988, after the problem had been identified. The clear window on this note has a shiny, mottled appearance.

A total of 31,200,000 of S1R1 and S1R2 notes have been issued (some sources suggest only 17,500,000 notes issued).

Australia S1 is the first plastic bank note printed by NPA and the first plastic bank note with a clear window.

Australia, 10 Dollars, issued in 1988. This is the first circulating polymer bank note with a clear window in the world. Issued to commemorate the 200 years of Australian settlement. Front: The ship Supply and a medley of people against a background of Sydney Cove. The Supply and its ten sister ships of the First Fleet left Portsmouth, England in May 1787, establishing a settlement at Sydney Cove in January 1788. Back: A portrayal of an Aboriginal youth wearing body painting, and a Morning Star Pole, an example of poles used by the Aboriginal people of north-east Arnhem Land on ceremonial occasions. Aboriginal paintings in background.

The currency note in this folder is of entirely new style. It was produced by the Note Printing Branch of the Reserve Bank of Australia at Craigieburn, Victoria, as a special Commemorative Issue. The note is the first of its kind in the world, in that it is printed on polymer (plastic) incorporating technology devised and developed in Australia. Notes from the limited first print run (of which this is one) bear the prefix AA and are imprinted “26 January 1988”. These features will distinguish them from subsequent prints of the note.

The technology embodied in the note represents the culmination of many years of joint research and development by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. This work has involved design, manufacture and incorporation in the note of a sophisticated optically variable device (OVD), to deter counterfeiting. The OVD, a portrait of Captain Cook, is visible from either side of the note. It diffracts light, producing a varying rainbow pattern when the viewing angle is changed. A clear portrait, and the rainbow pattern, are important security aspects of the new note. To allow the use of an OVD, a special polymer substrate was developed to replace the traditional currency note paper. The polymer, after treatment, performs comparably to paper in the printing processes. This permits the inclusion of traditional anti-counterfeiting devices based on the note printer’s skills. For instance, the intaglio printing used on the major features produces a distinct raised effect where the ink has been deposited; offset print, used for background patterns on the note, is applied to both sides at the same time, so that they are in perfect registration with each other. The watermark, usual in paper notes, has given way to the OVD. The note’s designer is Mr Harry Williamson, the designer of Australia’s current $100 note, aided by the staff tat he Bank’s Note Printing Branch. The theme of the design is settlement.

One side of the note related to Australia’s original inhabitants. It brings together some elements of Aboriginal culture—ancient rock painting and hand stencils, a portrayal of an Aboriginal youth wearing body painting, and a Morning Star Pole. The Pole is the work of the Aboriginal artist, Yumbulul and is an example of poles used by the Aboriginal people of north-east Arnhem Land on certain ceremonial occasions. Some original works commissioned by the Bank from Aboriginal artists have been used to create background patterns.

The other side of the note shows the ship “Supply” and a medley of people against a background of Sydney Cove. The “Supply” and its ten sister ships of the First Fleet left Portsmouth, England, for Botany Bay on 13 May 1787. All the fleet arrived at Botany Bay by 20 January 1788 but it was regarded as unsuitable for a settlement. Six days later a settlement was established at Sydney Cove. The representation of Sydney Cove is based on an engraving of a sketch by John Hunter, an officer of the First Fleet’s flagship, “Sirius”, and later Governor of New South Wales.

The Commemorative Note will be printed and issued only during 1988.

Issued on 07.07.92.

An uncut sheet of 40 S2P1 notes (all with the AA 00 000 000 serial number) has been auctioned in 1993. The sheet sold for AUD30,000 and has been cut up.

Australia, 5 Dollars, issued in 1992. The original 5 Dollars note in grey colour. Stylised gum flower in the clear window. Front: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State of the Commonwealth of Australia at centre right. Eucalyptus leaves (Scribbly gum) at left. Back: The old and the new Parliament Houses in Canberra. The patterns of the new house reflect the entrance to the ministerial wing, skylight for the Members Hall and the skylight for the Main Committee room. The Australian Federal Parliament consists of the Queen (depicted on the front of the note), a Senate, and a House of Representatives.

Front. Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's portrait is based on photographs commissioned by the Bank in 1984. The Queen gave approval to the use of this portrait on an Australian note in 1988. Eucalyptus Leaves; the designer's interpretation of Eucalyptus leaves was mainly based on the species Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma). The image within the transparent area is a stylised representation of a gum flower.

Back. Parliament House. The depictions of the Old and new Parliament Houses are based on the designer's interpretation of various architectural drawings and photographs. The Old Parliament House was opened in 1927 and the New Parliament House was opened in 1988. Landscape Plan for New Parliament House: based on the Design Development Landscape Plan for the New Parliament House which was provided by the Parliament House Construction Authority. Geometric Patterns: based on architectural features of the New Parliament House. The patterns reflect the entrance to the ministerial wing, skylight for the Members Hall and the skylight for the Main Committee room.

Queen Elizabeth II

Issued on 24.04.95.

Australia, 5 Dollars, issued in 1995. The re-coloured 5 Dollars note in violet colour. Stylised gum flower in the clear window. Front: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State of the Commonwealth of Australia at centre right. Eucalyptus leaves (Scribbly gum) at left. Back: The old and the new Parliament Houses in Canberra. The patterns of the new house reflect the entrance to the ministerial wing, skylight for the Members Hall and the skylight for the Main Committee room. The Australian Federal Parliament consists of the Queen (depicted on the front of the note), a Senate, and a House of Representatives.

Front. Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's portrait is based on photographs commissioned by the Bank in 1984. The Queen gave approval to the use of this portrait on an Australian note in 1988. Eucalyptus Leaves; the designer's interpretation of Eucalyptus leaves was mainly based on the species Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma). The image within the transparent area is a stylised representation of a gum flower.

Back. Parliament House. The depictions of the Old and new Parliament Houses are based on the designer's interpretation of various architectural drawings and photographs. The Old Parliament House was opened in 1927 and the New Parliament House was opened in 1988. Landscape Plan for New Parliament House: based on the Design Development Landscape Plan for the New Parliament House which was provided by the Parliament House Construction Authority. Geometric Patterns: based on architectural features of the New Parliament House. The patterns reflect the entrance to the ministerial wing, skylight for the Members Hall and the skylight for the Main Committee room.

Queen Elizabeth II