Who Collects Ozzie Banknotes

I collect a few
I have some pre poly notes and some of the newer poly notes.It is not a serious collection as are my coins, my wife spens them or sends them to her Mum not realizing the value of them.

I collect the polymers. The first Polymer notes were the bicentennary $10. The first regular polymer notes were the $5 isued in 1992 with the Fraser/Cole signature combination. In 1993 Cole was replaced by Ted Evans as the Secretary of the Treasury. Also in 1993 the year was added to the prefix of the notes with the year as the first 2 numbers. In 1995 the notes were recoloured a darker purlpe with orientation bands. In 1996 Fraser was replaced as Governor of the Reserve Bank by Macfarlane. Many collectors, myself included collect by signature varieties.

In 2001 we celebrated our Centenary of Federation with a Federation $5 note. This note was only in circulation for the year and the old style note was reissued in 2002.

Some collectors tried to collect this note with all the different serial prefixes. I think some got up to 50 different.

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Originally posted by rggoodie

rod
How about sharing some stories of the first poly notes.
Legend has it that some of the ink used to rub off and it had a few other flaws.
If any of this is true please enlighten us.

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The 1988 $10 was the first polymer (plastic) note issued. Like all our plastic notes there is a see through segment as an anti forgery device. In this see trough part is an oval OVD (optical variable device) of Captain James Cook. Well of course it was a challenge to the punters to see who could remove it. With much abraisive etc some were removed. Also with the first issues there was not sufficient varnish applied and some of the OVD designs did come off. This first series was quickly removed and a second issue with more varnish was released.



In the image above you can see the oval OVD with James Cook, around this oval you can see a grey colour, this is actually the backing sheet, which you can also see around the edge of the notes, as this part of the note is clear. The oval with Capt. Cook is actually a silver colour that changes with the light reflection.

I can also add a bit about the first polymer $10 (bicentennial note).

Besides being our first commemorative notes the notes were also a test note. Besides collector folders they were mostly originally released in the Hunter Valley. This was because it was seen as a relatively closed and defined area where the wear of the note could be tested. A dealer in Newcastle was instrumental in distributing uncirculated notes to other dealers further afield.

Six months after the release date I was on a family holiday where I travelled from Newcastle to Cairns and back. Although the notes were common in Newcastle most places I went during this holiday had not seen them and very few notes were seen particularly in the far north. This shows the distribution of them was not very far even 6 months after release.

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Originally posted by Bigfella

I can also add a bit about the first polymer $10 (bicentennial note).

Besides being our first commemorative notes the notes were also a test note. Besides collector folders they were mostly originally released in the Hunter Valley. This was because it was seen as a relatively closed and defined area where the wear of the note could be tested. A dealer in Newcastle was instrumental in distributing uncirculated notes to other dealers further afield.

Six months after the release date I was on a family holiday where I travelled from Newcastle to Cairns and back. Although the notes were common in Newcastle most places I went during this holiday had not seen them and very few notes were seen particularly in the far north. This shows the distribution of them was not very far even 6 months after release.

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Bigfella,

Thanks for that information. I can remember reading about that.

My biggest mistake was not buying some of the Newcastle Hoard superscribed notes. They were offered to me at an ANS meeting in the 1970s and I didn't collect notes at that time. Only one of my big mistakes.

I generally collect first and/or last prefix paper and polymer Aust banknotes. It's pretty easy to find most of the paper prefixes but some of the polymer's are proving quite elusive.

Anyway, it's good to finally find a forum that also includes banknotes.

Im mostly into coins

Hi Budgie....good to see you over here as well.....