Australian 5 dollar note
Encyclopedia
The Australian 5 dollar note was first issued in 1967, one year after the currency was changed from the Australian pound
to the Australian dollar
on 14 February 1966. It was a new denomination, as the pound system had no £2½, with a new mauve colouration.
There have been four different issues of this denomination:
Since the start of issuance there have been sixteen signature combinations, of which the 1967 issue is of the greatest value, issued for two years only; and the 1990 Fraser/Higgens being issued for less than a year.
From 1967 to 1974, the main title identifying the country was "Commonwealth of Australia" and there were 195,504,000 notes issued in its life. This was subsequently changed to "Australia" until the end of the issuance of paper currency for this denomination in 1992 with 978,068,318 of these notes being issued.
The polymer
issue includes a shadow image
of the Australian coat of arms which is visible under other printing when the note is held up to light, a pointed star with four points on the obverse and three on the reverse that come together under light, a clear window that has a eucalyptus
leaf showing, and raised print and micro printing of the denomination name.
Some features of the banknote glow under UV light, these features include the serial number and a square patch on the reverse of the note. There is also raised printing around the portraits and major design elemnents of the note which can be felt by rubbing the finger or fingernail against it.
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
to the Australian dollar
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
on 14 February 1966. It was a new denomination, as the pound system had no £2½, with a new mauve colouration.
There have been four different issues of this denomination:
- a paper note which had a gradient of mauve, with a distinct black overprint.
- The first polymerPolymerA polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
issue, which can be recognised for its distinct mauve colouration and numeral font, was first issued in pale mauve (1992). It was soon discovered that ultra-violet light degraded the ink bond and that a note in circulation for any moderate period of time could have elements scratched off with a fingernail, for example. - In 1995, a second polymer issue was created, distinguishable by its deeper shade and different font for the numeral.
- A federation commemorative was issued in 2001 for that year only. Notes featured Sir Henry Parkes on the obverse and Catherine Helen Spence on the reverse.
Statistics
According to Reserve Bank statistics, at the end of June 2006 there was a net value of $572 million in $5 notes in circulation, with a 1.5% cash value of all issued currency. Actual banknotes in circulation account for 13.3% of all denominations, or 114 million banknotes.Since the start of issuance there have been sixteen signature combinations, of which the 1967 issue is of the greatest value, issued for two years only; and the 1990 Fraser/Higgens being issued for less than a year.
From 1967 to 1974, the main title identifying the country was "Commonwealth of Australia" and there were 195,504,000 notes issued in its life. This was subsequently changed to "Australia" until the end of the issuance of paper currency for this denomination in 1992 with 978,068,318 of these notes being issued.
Design
On the latest 5 dollar note Queen Elizabeth II is on the front of the 5 dollar note along with eucalyptus leaves. There is a number 5 in the right hand corner of both sides. There is Australia written to the left of the queen. The parliament house is on the back of the 5 dollar note. In 2001, notes featured Sir Henry Parkes on the obverse and Catherine Helen Spence on the reverse.Security features
The paper design included a watermark in the white field of Captain james cook , the watermark was also used in the last issue of pound banknotes. A metallic strip, first near the centre of the note, then from 1976 moved to the left side on the obverse of the note.The polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
issue includes a shadow image
Shadow Image
Shadow Image is a crime novel by the American writer Martin J. Smith set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.It tells the story of psychologist Jim Christensen's work with Alzheimer's patients and his studies in repressed memory. Now, his most famous patient, the grand matriarch of a powerful political...
of the Australian coat of arms which is visible under other printing when the note is held up to light, a pointed star with four points on the obverse and three on the reverse that come together under light, a clear window that has a eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
leaf showing, and raised print and micro printing of the denomination name.
Some features of the banknote glow under UV light, these features include the serial number and a square patch on the reverse of the note. There is also raised printing around the portraits and major design elemnents of the note which can be felt by rubbing the finger or fingernail against it.