If you want to collect Australia banknotes, you’re in for a very fun ride. Even if you want to become a serious Australian banknote collector, you should start with collecting some of the country’s current banknotes. Even collecting some of the most common ones can help to get you familiar with the process of collecting.
Australia has a rich history, and you might choose to collect a specific theme, or you could focus on putting a specialized collection together. A lot of collectors of banknotes will begin with buying notes from a country with a full paper money history because the notes can be much easier to put together.
Here are some tips and some information that will help you with collecting Australia banknotes.
Australia banknotes history
What’s interesting about the first Australian banknotes is that they were only produced less than a century ago. Still, currency existed before that time. For example, Aboriginal trade happened through bartering and exchange. But the New South Wales colonists were the first to establish some form of currency – through rum.
After the colonists discovered gold in 1851, Australia began to mint its own coins. The people of Australia were originally suspicious of banknotes and only allowed them if they were backed with real gold. The population became even more cautious when banks failed in 1893.
Finally in 1910, Australia passed the Australian Notes Act. After this, responsibility for issuing of banknotes came from the Commonwealth Treasury.
Australia rare stamps for philatelists and other buyers
One of the notable aspects when you collect Australian banknotes is the many colors they have traditionally come in. Some of the most common Australian banknote colors include:
- Green and yellow
- Mauve
- Brown and orange
- Blue and orange
- Red and yellow
- Gold, blue, brown and green
- Light blue and gray
In general, Australian banknotes tend to be quite colorful compared to some of the other currencies on the market. Modern Australian banknotes are made from polymer and laminated. Since art and design is such a basic part of paper money collecting, you may want to start looking for examples of each color for your own collection. Just browse through sellers’ sales listings and see what they have. Whatever jumps out at you and fits into your budget is the right note to buy!
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Australian banknote security features
The material the Australian banknote has been made from, polymer, has a distinctive feel. It’s one of the ways to tell if a given piece of paper money is genuine. Another security feature is known as the top-to-bottom window, which has multiple security features like a clear section. You should check that the security features of the window can’t be rubbed off; any reputable dealer (i.e., with good feedback) will only sell genuine notes. The colorful bird is another security feature, and when you flip it, you see its colors change.
Collect Australia banknotes: The obscurities
In addition to modern Australian notes and the many historical banknotes that are found all over the marketplace, there are related, non-Australian notes that hold great attraction for many collectors.
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Hutt River Province banknotes
“Prince Leonard” of Hutt River Province first issued this private fantasy issue in his self-proclaimed principality that lies within Western Australia. This happened after a heated dispute with the government over wheat quotas when Hutt River “seceded.” It all began on April 21, 1970. The notes, never legal tender, are among the more unique and obscure in the notaphily world. Many who collect Australia banknotes also have a set of Hutt River notes in their possession.
Australian Antarctic Territory banknotes
There are several Antarctic “banknotes” available for collectors, and the Australian Antarctic Territory (or AAT) versions are especially nice. Look for the fifth in the series which has a humpback whale on it. This has been issued as legal Australian tender, which means that you can still make use of it in every day transactions.
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Popular price guides to help you collect Australia banknotes
Australian Coin & Banknote Values is considered one of the go-to guides on banknotes that Oz paper money collectors should make use of. Whether you’re an advanced collector or just getting started, you can access some of the latest information and the guide contains over 1,800 photos.
Standard Catalog of World Paper Money is another standard choice that is worth considering. There are over 14,000 illustrations, plus detailed and accurate descriptions of banknotes in this famous guide. It’s one of the most comprehensive books that you can buy on banknotes, and it shows every step of the way.
Important banknote collecting supplies
As a collector, you may want a ring binder to keep your banknotes in an organized fashion. You could also collect them inside of an album. The important thing is that you get something that organizes them better so that you can keep them in place and find specific ones as needed. You should use a simple organizational method and/or maintain a list (on a computer, say) so that you can locate specific notes as your collection grows.
Notable and rare Australian banknotes
The $10 1988 specimen was one of the first polymer banknotes in Australia, which has given it unprecedented value. In fact, it sells for over $17,500 these days. Some of these banknotes were set aside for the public dignitaries and the royal family.
You could also look out for the Twenty Pound Australian Join Stock Bank Limited 1884. This is another popular currency, and what makes this one great is its age. It sells for around $3,000.
Finally, you have the Twenty Dollar Phillips Randall Star Note. It’s an especially pretty example of paper money, with an orange and yellow color.
Buy and collect Australia banknotes online
The advantage of shopping for collectible banknotes online is that you can have access to such a wide selection. The inventory changes almost constantly, with excellent new banknotes appearing throughout every single day. In addition, buying from reputable sources is safe.
Browse 325 current Australia banknotes for sale offers here
You can find Australian banknotes for sale on both ends of the budget spectrum. The most enthusiastic banknote collectors may concentrate on the rarer banknotes, but they too have enjoy adding some of the less expensive banknotes to their collections. Buying less expensive paper money collectibles from Australia can be a good way to start a collection. It will likely lead to your enthusiasm growing quickly from there. Most collectors have a broad range of interests and there is no wrong place to start.
The cool thing when you collect Australia banknotes is how the currency tends to tell a story. The people you see on the banknote were influential in some way; they had an impact on society and learning about them can be quite instructive. Most banknote collectors have developed a love for collecting specific themes. It can be a fun hobby to get into and Australia offers a wild and wonderful world of possibilities!
