Where To Start?

to CCF!

Somethings I mention might only be options here in the states but some intial guidance to a fellow new numismatist are:

Get the reference books mentioned by Pedro
Go to any coin shop you can, look around, ask questions, and spend a few dollars(dealers usually open up more if you pull your wallet out)
Look online - i.e. ebay and other sites that may sell currecny, might find a deal
Go to any coin shows you can - lots of fellow enthusiasts will be there to help
Use this forum as much as you can

and enjoy your new habit, I mean hobby

You obviously know that the PE94 is rare and you've found one...so you've already started ! Whatever you did just keeping doing it. Buy a copy of McDonalds guide and read it and get on google and look for all stuff about your interest and read as much as you can on it. The Reserve bank of OZ has a website which has a banknotes section which if useful. This site is good to ask questions and get answers too..

Good Luck and take your time... I am sure that a lot of experienced collectors that have been around for many years are the first to admit they are still learning.. so just keep at it.

And welcome to ccf

Basically yes. It is Greg MacDonalds Pocketbook Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes. The 2013 book is out now. Prices are sky high though and can only be used as a very very rough guide.

Thanks both! Geez, the pocketbook guide is more than Spinks. I'll take a look at Renniks, thanks Peter.

Alternatively, are there any recommended Australian websites like Tony Claytons that can be used as a resource?
http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/links.html

Thanks for all the help guys. Does anyone know where I can get a renniks or McDonald's guide in melbourne? I'd rather not get one online...

Hi doogs, welcome aboard the note-train.

I prefer Renniks too.

My opinion in collecting polymer notes (which I love collecting) will tell you the following for rarity. I go buy stats (which to me is rarity) mainly & notes pre 2000 are always going to be more valueable, because for the majority of those years, no-body knew what prefixes were going to be the last prefixes.

A couple points for you to note firstly are that the absolute most of any prefix printed can be 999,999.
FP is First Prefix
LP is Last Prefix
TN is Test Note

ALL of the following notes are notes which command $750 or more in UNC grade:
----
$5
The two below will be almost impossible to find in circulation due to the $5 note being the most heavily circulated note.
AA00 - 1992 FP - Almost full print 993,999
AB19 - 1992 LP - 777,999
KC95 - LP - 766,999
EA96 - LP - 763,999
HB97 - LP - Print of 135,999
1997 - TP - Overall print of 390,840 (made up of 9,771 notes of each 40 prefixes)
KC05 - LP - A very small print of only 89,993. The only issue is the majority are UNC, so they won't rise too much.
----
$10
Below are all low prints & extremely hard to find. I searched through a thousand recently & found quite a few recent FP & LP's, but not many old notes at all. I did find a few top condition GL07's - LP which only had a smaller print of 446,197 (but not small by any means).
KE93 - LP - 916,499
AA94 - FP - 384,205
DF94 - LP - 384,205
DF96 - LP - 149,999 - a very small print
DF97 - LP - 510,499 - They do exist in UNC, but in private hands. I have seen one before. I actually found one in VF condition a few years ago. A note I shouldn't have sold, but realistically, more printed yet more valuable than the DF96...you tell me. Does it make sense?
----
$20
PE94 - LP - 179,999 - They do exist in UNC, but in private hands. I've also seen a consecutive pair before.
DA95 - LP - 753,499
DA96 - LP - 818,999
GB97 - LP - 206,999
----
$50
VG95 - LP - 379,999
DA96 - LP - 626,999
JC97 - LP - 485,999
JC98 - LP - Only 39,999 - To me the $50 JC98 is the ultimate noteworthy note. A note that has such a small print, which is extremely hard to find without paying a high price for.
----
$100
JK96 - LP - 242,499
AN96 - TNFP - 351,999
CS96 - TNLP - 351,999
CF98 - LP - 555,499

With all the above FP,LP & TP. It's odd to see some notes with such high print numbers command such a high price. But in anything, the buyers are the people setting the prices.

Take your time, research & over time if you can find some bargains then do so.

The lowest printed LP's are:
$50 JC98 - 39,999
$50 MD08 - 49,999
$100 EL10 - 57,999
$100 EL11 - 69,999
$5 KC05 - 89,963
The issue with all the more recent low prints is that they're probably all in UNC condition.

Anything else? Just ask. I could talk & type for hours.

If they're $20 notes, then quite possibly as a last prefix.

To check for last prefixes across all years, try the RBA's website for serial number information.