Australian 10 dollar note

Infobox Banknote
Country = Australia
Denomination = Ten Dollars
Value = 10
Unit = Australian dollars
Width = 137
Height = 65
Security Features = Window, Watermark
Paper Type = Polymer
Years of Printing = 1993–present
Obverse = Australia_10_2006.00.00_P58_f.jpg
Obverse Design = Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson
Obverse Designer = Max Robinson
Obverse Design Date = 1 November, 1993
Reverse = Australia_10_2006.00.00_P58_r.jpg
Reverse Design = Mary Gilmore
Reverse Designer = Max Robinson
Reverse Design Date = 1 November, 1993

The Australian ten dollar banknote was issued when the currency was changed from the Australian pound to the Australian dollar on the 14 February 1966; it replaced the £5 note which had the same blue colouration. There have been three different issues of this denomination, a paper banknote, a commemorative 1988 polymer note to celebrate the bicentennial of Australian settlement (the first polymer banknote of its kind), and from 1993 a polymer banknote.

According to the reserve bank statistics there is a net value of $894 million in $10 notes in circulation, with a 2.2% cash value of all issued currency. Actual banknotes in circulation account for 9.9% of all denominations or 89.4 million banknotes. [ [http://www.rba.gov.au/CurrencyNotes/Statistics/notes_on_issue.html Reserve bank statistics 2006/2007]

Since the start of issuance there have been eleven signature combinations of which the 1967 issue is the most valued, issued for one year only along with the Coomb/Wilson issue of 1966.

Printing

From 1966-1974 the main title identifying the country was "Commonwealth of Australia", there were 470,000,000 notes issued in its life. This was subsequently changed to "Australia" until the end of issuance of paper currency for this denomination in 1993 with 1,265,959,091 of these notes being issued. In the 1988 polymer issue 17,500,000 banknotes were printed.

Design

The people depicted on the paper note issue were Francis Greenway on the obverse along with public building he helped construct, and Henry Lawson on the reverse with his poetry and scenes of the outback gold mining town of Gulgong in the 1800s including the Times Bakery. [ [http://www.rba.gov.au/Museum/Displays/1960_1988_rba_and_reform_of_the_currency/australias_first_decimal_currency_notes.html Australia's first decimal currency notes] retrieved 20 January 2008]

Henry Lawson used to be featured on the bill.

The polymer note features Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson on the obverse with a horse from the Snowy mountains region, and either a wattle or banksia plant, also included is his signature. His poetry is in the background. Mary Gilmore is on the reverse with 1800s heavy transport with horse and cart and verses from her poetry. Her signature is included. A windmill is in the clear window with the raised wavy lines.

"1988 Commemorative"Obverse design included the sailing ship HMS "Supply" anchored at Sydney Cove with the early colony in the background. Above are people who symbolise all who have contributed to Australia, from left the early settlers to right the modern working man.

Reverse includes portraits of the native population, the main picture is a young native youth with ceremonial paint, and in the background is a Morning Star Pole, other "Aboriginal artworks commissioned by the Bank" and a human like figure from Dream time. [ [http://www.rba.gov.au/Museum/Displays/1988_onwards_polymer_currency_notes/first_polymer.html#top First polymer] retrieved 24 August 2006]

ecurity 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.
Polymer issue includes a watermark or clear imprint of the coat of arms which is printed over. A raised image in the clear panel of wavy lines. Also for this issue fluorescent colouring was added to the serial numbers. A star with four points on the obverse and three on the reverse which join under light.Raised print and micro printing of the denomination name are included. [ [http://www.rba.gov.au/CurrencyNotes/SecurityFeaturesAndCounterfeitDetection/security_features_on_australias_notes.html Security Features on Australia's Notes] retrieved 20 August 2006]

"1988 Commemorative"This issue includes a optically variable device of Captain James Cook who first mapped Botany Bay.

Nicknames

The $10 note is colloquially known as a 'heeler' (ie. blue heeler) or a 'swimmer' (ie. blue swimmer crab) due to its blue colour.

References

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