Skip to main content

Australia releases new $50

On Sep. 5, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia announced that the country’s new $50 note would go into general circulation on Oct. 18.

Details of the new note were announced back in February. As with Australia’s existing $50 (P-54, -60), the new note features portraits of Aboriginal writer and inventor David Unaipon and the first female member of any Australian parliament, Edith Cowan.

Face and back of Australia’s new $50 bank note that was to be placed into circulation on Oct. 18. (Images courtesy Reserve Bank of Australia)

The polymer bank note also includes new security features similar to those on the $5 and $10 bank notes issued over the past two years.

Readers may be aware that considerable political upheaval has occurred Down Under in recent months. Unusual for the governor of any central bank, Lowe chose to use the $50 launch to highlight the deteriorating relationship between men and women in Australia’s Federal Parliament. Allegations of bullying and gender-based intimidation have forced one MP to resign and others to question their future.

Lowe did so by reading aloud the microtext on the bank note that quotes from Edith Cowan’s first parliamentary speech: “I stand here today in the unique position of being the first woman in an Australian Parliament. If men and women can work for the same state side by side and represent all the different sections of the community” … “I cannot doubt that we should do very much better work in the community than was ever done before.”

Lowe added that he was “proud to have this text on the new note” … “nearly 100 years on, this sentiment is just as relevant as it was back in 1921.”

The $50 is Australia’s most widely circulated bank note. It is the denomination primarily used in ATMs. However, as with any new bank notes, it takes time for the new notes to become widely available. To shorten this interval, the $50 notes were shipped nationwide in late September and early October in time for the Oct. 18 release.

Readers wanting full details of the design and security features on the new $50 can find these on the RBA’s website: https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/.

 

This article was originally printed in Bank Note Reporter. >> Subscribe today.

 

Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues
If you like what you’ve read here, we invite you to visit our online bookstore to learn more about Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues, 1961-Present, 24th Edition.

Learn more >>>

The post Australia releases new $50 appeared first on Numismatic News.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stack’s Bowers’ June 2020 Auction Nets Over $5 Million

The Stack’s Bowers Galleries June 2020 Auction continued the trend of high prices realized recently demonstrated in their March Santa Ana and May Hong Kong auctions. Over $5 million was realized in the June sale across United States coins, tokens, and medals, achieving 114 percent of the pre-sale estimate on sold lots. (All prices listed include the buyer’s fee.) Strong demand for high-end gold coinage reflected continued growth in this collecting area, while Numismatic America also saw incredible strength, earning over 50 percent above pre-sale estimates in Internet-Only Session Three. With such strong results in their June sale, Stack’s Bowers Galleries is anticipating considerable interest in their upcoming August 2020 Auction, which will be posted online for viewing and bidding in early July. This Mint State 1824/4 O-110 Capped Bust half dollar featuring Washington and Lafayette countermarks realized $26,400. (All images courtesy Stack’s Bowers) Session One opened with Numism
Post a Comment
Read more

Mythology Featured on Early Indian Banknotes

The origin of the universe can be explained by modern astronomers and astrophysicists, while archaeologists and historians try to clarify the origin of human societies. A mythology is a collection of stories about a specific culture or religion. They often feature supernatural characters. Cultures around the world are filled with such ales about relationships between gods and humans. In the distant past, however, before any sciences existed, the beginnings of the world and of society were explained by MYTHOLOGY. Mythology is a common topic of expression through artwork. Not just dance; painting, sculpting, the mythology is a way of expression during many facets of day to day life. Even on Indian coins, stamps, and banknotes Mythology is featured with distinct concepts. The blog covers the topic: Mythology Featured on Early Indian Banknotes. As the British colonial reign strengthened in India over the years, their paper currency became the new normal. More denominations came in, layou
Post a Comment
Read more

Letters to the Editor (September 18, 2018)

Minting a new 3-cent piece wasteful if not silly Mint a three-cents coin? In the Aug. 28 issue of Numismatic News , a Viewpoint article by Wayne Pearson advocated the issuance of a new three-cent denomination coin to replace the cent. I think this idea is silly since nothing can be bought for three cents. Minting such a denomination would be wasteful. The least expensive item I know of is a paper bag, which one can buy for 10 cents in California when buying groceries. Making any coin of a smaller denomination makes no sense. I advocate a complete reworking of all of our coin denominations as follows: A dime, as the smallest; a quarter; a half dollar; and a dollar and a five dollar, all in ascending order of size. Eliminate the $1 bill and the $5 bill and begin the printing of $500 bills. Thomas Miller Santa Rosa, Calif.   Base metal dollar coin designs that have circulated alongside the paper dollar include Eisenhower (top left), Susan B. Anthony (center right), and Sacagawea
Post a Comment
Read more