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Australia Polymer Banknotes
Listed below are details of all Australian polymer notes issued since 1988. This page is for your reference only and I have also listed the original issue price as a guide in case you are a collector. Please be aware that some of these commemorative notes listed are currently selling well below the original issue prices. Majority of these are Premium issues (red serial numbers), folders and some special or joint issues. It is believed that initial lack of interest by collectors seem to be the main contributing factor. All values listed are in Australian dollars. Of course I have yet to acquire all the notes but I have placed a link on some of the notes for your viewing.

The following are Reserve Bank Governors and Secretary to the Treasury (past and present) appointed that have signed on polymer notes issued since 1988: -
Governor Secretary to the Treasury Notes Issued
Robert Johnston - 14/08/1982 to 17/07/1989
Bernie Fraser - 18/09/1989 to 17/09/1996
Bernie Fraser - 18/09/1989 to 17/09/1996
Ian Macfarlane - 18/09/1996 to 17/19/2006
Ian Macfarlane - 18/09/1996 to 17/09/2006
Glenn Stevens - Since 18/09/2006
Bernie Fraser - 17/09/1984 to 17/09/1989
Tony Cole - 14/02/1991 to 23/03/1993
Ted Evans - 10/05/1993 to 16/04/2001
Ted Evans - 10/05/1993 to 16/04/2001
Ken Henry - Since 27/04/2001
Ken Henry - Since 27/04/2001
$10
$5
$5, $5 (1995), $10, $20, $50 & $100
$5, $10, $20, $50 & $100
$5 (2001), $5, $10, $20 & $50
$20
.
The first Australian Guardian© $10 polymer was released on 27th January 1988, after years of R&D by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The notes were produced to commemorate the Bicentennial of European Settlements in Australia. Unfortunately, these notes were short lived and were forced to recall three days after it were released when a local TV station revealed that the Optically Variable Device (OVD - Captian Cook image) on the note can be easily removed by rubbing against it with a pencil eraser. These faulty notes can be easily identified by its first two digits serial numbers commencing 93, 94 or 96 (i.e. xxxx 93x xxx). A second print was re-ordered and released on 24/10/1988. The prefixes issued for these first and second ten dollars prints are; -

* First release - Prefixes AB10 - AB33 (i.e. xxxx 93x xxx, xxxx 94x xxx & xxxx 96x xxx)
* Second release - Prefixes AB10 - AB57. [Information on notes issued (1) and (2)]


Table: General circulating First and Last Prefix polymer notes issued since 1992: -
Note Info. -1992- -1993- -1994- -1995- -1996- -1997- -1998- -1999- -2001- -2002- -2003- -2004- -2005- -2006- -2007-
$5
QEII
F
B
AA00
AB19
BA
EA
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
$5
ReCol
F
B
- - ** AA
KC
BA*
EA*
BA
HB
BA
EA
** - BA
EA
BA
EA
- BA
KC
BA
HB
-
$10 F
B
- AA
KE
AA
DF
** AA
DF
AA
DF
AA
GL
** - AA
GL
AA
DF
- - AA
GL
-
$20 F
B
- - AA
PE
AA
DA
AA
DA
AA
GB
AA
DA
** - AA
KM
AA
DA
- AA
GB
AA
JC
AA
$50 F
B
- - - AA
VG
AA
DA
AA
JC
AA
JC
AA
PE
- - AA
DA
AA
GB
AA
JC
AA
JC
-
$100 F
B
- - - - AA
JK
** AA
CF
AA
JK
- - - - - - -
$5
Fed
F
B
- - - - - - - - AA
JD
- - - - - -
** - Only Annual Folder notes were issued. No notes issued in 2000.

Click here to view the statistics information (first and last prefixes) on all polymer notes issued since 1992


N

O

T

E

S

Since 1993, all notes are issued with the year dated prefix imprinted after the first 2 letters prefix. For example a 'AA93' prefix note means that it was printed/issued in 1993. The above prefixes listed (table) are related to notes printed for general circulations only. For all others issues including folders and commemoratives, please see below for details.

$5 [1992]* - The 1992 $5 prints come in 3 serial number colours varieties. There are black, dark-green and light-green serial numbers. It appears that the light green variation would command a better value than those dark green notes.

$5 [1995]* - The re coloured note was introduced on 24th April 1995 to make it easier to distinquish it from the $10 note. The new notes also incorporated with the wide orientation bands to help sorting large amounts. A variety occured when the earlier printing plates were damaged during printing process and replaced with new plates, which come with narrow orientation bands. This variety only occurs with letter prefixes between HC95 - KC95.

$5 [1996]* - This denomination has 2 signature varieties, Fraser & Evans and Macfarlane & Evans and both issued with the same first and last prefix letters, ie 'BA' and 'EA'. The following scans are from Macfarlane/Evans prints - BA96 & EA96.

$5 [1997]* & $100 [1996]* - Test notes were printed for the $5 value with the following letters prefixes - AN-AZ, BN-BZ & CN-CZ & DN and AN-CS for the $100 denominations. These were printed for trial to test the static free substrate.

$5 [2001]* - 500 uncirculated first prefix notes with serial nos AA01 000001 to 000500 were originally meant to be used as specimen notes. However 492 pieces of the notes were later sold at tender and fetched between $26 to $1275 each. The remaining 8 notes with nos 1 to 8 were retained by NPA's archives.

Since 2001, all notes are printed with the Governor's signature located above the Secretary to the Treasury and names of all portraits (except the $5), are also added.


F/V FIRST POLYMER ISSUE - (with hard folder cover) Qty I/P Pic
$5 1995 - Fraser/Evans, Premium portfolio released 24 April 1995
*Red s/n EA95 500101 - EA95 501000: and
*Black s/n EA93 500101 - EA93 501000 (recoloured note), with matching serial nos.
900 195/- -
F
F
$10 1993 - note dated 1 November 1993, s/n AA93 000101 - AA93 001000
Fraser/Cole (paper) and Fraser/Evans (polymer)
900 295/- F/B
$20 1994 - note dated 31 November 1994, s/n AA94 000101 - AA94 001000
Fraser/Evans (paper) and Fraser/Evans (polymer)
900 350/- F/B
$50 1995 - note dated 4 November 1995, s/n AA95 000101 - AA95 001000
Fraser/Evan (paper) and Fraser/Evan (polymer)
900 350/- F/B
$100 1996 - note dated 15 May 1996, s/n AA96 000101 - AA96 001000
Fraser/Cole (paper) and Fraser/Evans (polymer)
900 450/- F/B


F/V FIRST (POLYMER) AND LAST (PAPER) FOLDER ISSUES
(with Paper & Polymer and single Polymer note)
Qty I/P Pic
$5 1992 - Fraser/Cole, 2 notes folder, paper & polymer, date overprinted 7 July 1992.
*First day of issue - deluxe folder
*Standard souvenir folder
*Staff issue - gift
-
17000
30000
350
-
20/-
19/-
Gift
-
-
F/B
-
$10 1993 - Fraser/Cole (paper) & Fraser/Evans (polymer) with polymer overprinted 1 November 1993.
*First day of issue - deluxe folder AA93 001001 - AA93 010000 (black s/n)
*Standard souvenir folder AB93 000001 (paper with 'MRR' prefix) (purple s/n)
-
900
40000
-
49/-
36/-
-
-
F/B
$20 1994 - Fraser/Evans, polymer note dated 31 October 1994, paper & polymer
*2 notes folder - Polymer, AA94 001001 - AA94 006000. Paper 'ADK' prefix
*One note folder - AB94 000001 -
-
5000
30000
-
69/-
36/-
-
-
F/B
$50 1995 - Fraser/Evans, polymer note dated 4 October 1995, paper & polymer
*2 notes folder - paper prefix 'FAB' & polymer s/n AA95 001001 - AA95 004500
*One note folder - AA95 004501 - AA95 011500
-
3500
7000
-
129/-
66/-
-
-
F/B
$100 1996 - Fraser/Evans, polymer note dated 1 May 1996, paper & polymer
*2 notes folder, paper note prefix 'ZLD' & polymer, AA96 001001 - AA96 003000
*One note folder - AB96 003001 - AB96 006000
-
2000
3000
-
259/-
129/-
-
-
F/B


F/V DATED ANNUAL 'AA' PREFIX FOLDERS - The first 100 red s/n notes (#000001 to #000100) were retained by NPA archives. Red s/n released for sale with #000101 to #001000 and black s/n with #001001 onwards. Both 1998 and 1999 notes were sold in complete notes set. Qty I/P Pic
$5 1994 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA94 000001 - AA94 001000
Black s/n AA94 001001 - AA94 010000
900
9000
45/-
15/-
-
F/B
$10 1994 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA94 000001 - AA94 001000
Black s/n AA94 001001 - AA94 010000
900
9000
50/-
20/-
-
F/B
$5 1995 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA95 000001 - AA95 001000
Black s/n AA95 001001 - AA95 010000
900
9000
50/-
15/-
-
F/B
$10 1995 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA95 000001 - AA95 001000
Black s/n AA95 001001 - AA95 010000
900
9000
65/-
20/-
-
F/B
$20 1995 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA95 000001 - AA95 001000
Black s/n AA95 001001 - AA95 007000
900
6000
85/-
30/-
-
F/B
$5 1996 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA96 000001 - AA96 001000
Black s/n AA96 001001 - AA96 009000
900
8000
50/-
15/-
-
F/B
$10 1996 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA96 000001 - AA96 001000
Black s/n AA96 001001 - AA96 009000
900
8000
65/-
20/-
-
F/B
$20 1996 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA96 000001 - AA96 001000
Black s/n AA96 001001 - AA96 007000
900
6000
85/-
30/-
-
F/B
$50 1996 - Fraser/Evans, Red s/n AA96 000001 - AA96 001000
Black s/n AA96 001001 - AA96 005000
900
4000
115/-
96/-
-
F
/B
$5 1997- Macfarlane/Evans, Red s/n AA97 000001 - AA97 001000
Black s/n AA97 001001 - AA97 008000
900
7000
50/-
15/-
-
F/B
$10 1997 - Macfarlane/Evans, Red s/n AA97 000001 - AA97 001000
Black s/n AA97 001001 - AA97 008000
900
7000
65/-
20/-
-
F/B
$20 1997 - Macfarlane/Evans, Red s/n AA97 000001 - AA97 001000
Black s/n AA97 001001 -
900
6000
85/-
30/-
-
F/B
$50 1997 - Macfarlane/Evans, Red s/n AA97 000001 - AA97 001000
Black s/n AA97 001001 - AA97 006000
900
5000
115/-
96/-
-
F/B
$100 1997 - Macfarlane/Evans, Red s/n AA97 000001 - AA97 001000
Black s/n AA97 001001 - AA97 005000
900
4000
165/-
129/-
-
F
/B
$5 - $100 1998 - Macfarlane/Evans, Red s/n AA98 000001 - AA98 001000
Black s/n AA98 001001 - AA98 003000
Obverse - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100. Reverse - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100
900
2000
-
480/-
263/-
-
*
$5 - $100 1999 - Macfarlane/Evans, Red s/n AA99 000001 - AA99 001000
Black s/n AA99 001001 - AA99 002200
Obverse - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100. Reverse - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100
900
1200
-
480/-
325/-
-
*


F/V COMMEMORATIVE FOLDERS Qty I/P Pic
$10 1988 - Johnston/Fraser, Bicentenary - 200th years of first Europeans settlement
*First prefix AA00
*Last prefix AA23
*Staff folder, AA00 0... (low aerial nos) 2 notes
800K
220*
110*
499*
$14/-
$14/-
$14/-
Gift
-
F
F
-
$5 1996 - Fraser/Evans & Macfarlane/Evans, signature change
*Red s/n FE96 000001 - FE96 001000 & ME96 000001 - ME96 001000
*FE96 000001 was auctioned for charity and raised $800
*Black s/n FE96 000001 - FE96 002500 & ME96 001001 - ME96 002500

1000
-
1500
-
79/-
-
39/-
-
F
-
F
$5 1997 - Famous Five, 30th Anniversary of $5 note, one paper and 2 polymer notes.
*Red s/n EA93, overprinted 1st issued 7 July 1992 & s/n AA95, overprinted 1st issued 24 April 1995
*Black s/n EA93, overprinted 1st issued 7 July 1992 & s/n AA95, overprinted 1st issued 24 April 1995
Note: the no 1 note was auctioned for charity and raised $780
-
1000
1500
-
-
85/-
45/-
-
-
-
F/F
-
$5 1997 - HK97, Hong Kong handover folder with red s/n 8000 18/- F/B
$10 1998 - 10th anniversary of Australia polymer notes
*Red overprint and s/n with 1 x $10 1988 note with AA prefix, ovpt 26 January 1988 & 1 x $10 1998 prefix AB98 000001- AB98 001000, overprinted 26 January 1998.
*Black overprint and s/n with 1 x $10 1988 note with AA prefix, ovpt 26 January 1988 & 1 x $10 1998 prefix AB98 001001- AB98 002500, overprinted 26 January 1998.
-
1000
-
1500
-
-
85/-
-
49/-
-
-
-
-
F/F
-
$5 2001 - Centenary of Federation
*Red "1901-2001' overprinted
50 lowest numbers #001001 - #001050 were sold by tender and fetched between $90-$950
-
100K
-
-
12/-
-
F/B


F/V UNCUT SHEET POLYMER NOTES - (in folder) Qty I/P Pic
$10 1988 - Johnston/Fraser - 24-uncut sheet
*Half sheet including AA00 prefix
*Block of 4
*Strip of 4
500
1000
1370
1630
975/-
400/-
125/-
125/-
F/B
$5 1993 - Fraser/Cole, sheet of 40 'AA92', auctioned for charity for $25,000. Sheet has been cut up 1 - *
$5 1996 - recoloured note, Fraser/Evans, BA96 - EA96
*Block of 4 red s/n, #0000001 auctioned for $2,200
*Block of 4 black s/n
*Pair red s/n 000001 auctioned for $1,000
*Pair black s/n
-
1000
2200
1000
2200
-
95/-
65/-
65/-
35/-
-
-
-
-
F/B
$5 1997 - Macfarlane/Evans, Handover of HK, 'HK97', red s/n block of 8 uncut sheet. 5000 180/- F/B
$5 1998 - Macfarlane/Evans, full sheet (40) sold by tender, Prefix AA98 005001 - DA98 005200 200 - F/B
$10 1994 - Fraser/Evans, sheet of 45 'AA94', sold at charity for $44,000. Sheet has since been cut up. 1 - *
$10 1997 - Macfarlane/Evans, AA97 to DF97
*Pair red s/n
*Pair blue s/n
*Block of 4, red s/n
*Block of 4, blue s/n
*Block of 4 with #000001 was auctioned and raised $650.
-
1000
1600
1000
1600
-
-
95/-
65/-
125/-
95/-
-
F/B
$10 1999 - Macfarlane/Evans, uncut sheet of 45, s/n AA99 010001 - AA99 010150, Sold at tender. 150 - *
$20 1996 - Fraser/Evans, sheet of 40 'AA94', sold at charity, also has been cut up since then. Auction raised $30,000. 1 - *
$20 1998 - Macfarlane/Evans,
*Pair red s/n
*Pair black s/n
*Block of 4, red s/n
*Block of 4, black s/n
-
400
800
400
800
-
135/-
95/-
175/-
135/-
F/B
$50 1996 - Fraser/Evans, sheet of 40 'AA95', sold at charity, also has been cut up. Auction raised $30,000. 1 - *
$50 1999 - Macfarlane/Evans,
*Pair, red s/n AA98 010151 - DA98 010170
*Pair, blue and black s/n AA98 010171 - DA98 010210
*Block of 4, red s/n AA99 010001 - DA99 010025
*Block of 4, blue and black s/n AA98 010051 - DA98 010150??
-
200
280
200
280
-
295/-
195/-
295/-
-
F/B
$100 1997 - Fraser/Evans, sheet of 32 'AA96', sold at charity and has been cut up. Auction raised $40,000. 1 - *
$100 1999 - Macfarlane/Evans,
*Pair, red s/n AA99 010061 - CF99 010073
*Pair, black s/n AA99 010074 - CF99 010090
*Block of 4, red s/n AA99 010001 - CF 010025
*Block of 4, black s/n AA99 010026 - CF99 010060
-
200
280
200
280
-
540/-
430/-
595/-
495/-
F/B
$5 2001 - Macfarlane/ Evans,
*Sheet of 40 sold by tender (Highest bid $1275, lowest $220)
*Block of 4

356
1500
-
-
69/-
-
-
F/B


F/V SPECIAL NPA PORTFOLIO NOTES COLLECTION - Prefix '0096' Qty I/P Pic
$5 - $100 1996 - Polymer note portfolio issued in August 1996. All notes with matching serial numbers commencing '0096' and overprinted with 'First issued dates', s/n 0096 000001 - 0096 001000. This issue only sold by ballot. Set #000001 was auctioned for charity and raised $3,000. Obverse - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100, Reverse - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100 1000 495/- *


F/V JOINT ISSUE PORTFOLIOS Qty I/P Pic
$10 NPA & RAM (Royal Austarlia Mint) - 1988 Portfolio Album with 3 coins and 3 notes, $2, $5 (both paper) and $10 1988 polymer. 25000 120/- F/B
$10 NPA & Australia Post - 1993 Eminent Women Centenary Portfolio, $10 note with a pane of 25 stamps of 45 cents each. Total 5000 issued
Red s/n AP93 000001 - AP93 000500
Black s/n AP93 000501 - AP93 005000
Note : the #001 note was auctioned for charity and raised $5,000 on 18/11/1993.
-
-
500
4500
-
-
-
175/-
95/-
-
-
-
F/B
F
/B
-
$10 NPA & Telecom (now Telstra) - 1995 Centenary of 'Waltzing Matilda' 1895-1995 with a $10 phone card.
Red s/n WM95 000001 - WM95 001000
Black s/n WM95 001001 - WM95 005000
Note: Portfolio no WM95 000001 was auctioned at charity on 30/03/1995 and raised $2,300
-
1000
4000
-
-
195/-
95/-
-
-
F/B
F/B
-
$5 NPA & Australia Post - 1996 Thirty Years of Decimal Currency 1966 - 1996, issued with the $5 note and a special gutter strip of stamps of 45 cents each (x10). Note with QE prefix.
Red s/n QE96 000001 - QE96 001000
Black s/n QE96 001001 - QE96 003000
Note 000 001 was auctioned and raised $1,000 for charity. auction
-
-
1000
2000
-
-
-
95/-
45/-
-
-
-
F/B
F/B
-
$20 NPA & Australia Post - 1997 Emergency Services $20 note and pane of 10 stamps gutter strip (10 x $1.20 stamp). The note is overprint with 'Emergency Services'
Red s/n ES97 000001 - ES97 001000
Black s/n ES97 001001 - ES97 003000
Note. 000001 was auctioned for charity and sold for $1,400
-
-
1000
2000
-
-
-
145/-
85/-
-
-
-
F/B
F/B
-
$5- $100 NPA & RAM - 1997 Annual complete collection 5 notes with matching serial no ZZ97 and a set of specimen coins, s/n ZZ97 999999 - ZZ97 998500. Set no ZZ97 999999 was auctioned for charity and raised $2,700.
Observe - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100, Reverse - $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100
1500 395/- *
$5- $100 NPA & RAM - 1998 Annual complete collection 5 notes $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100 with matching serial no ZZ98 and a set of proof coins. Serial #ZZ98 999000 - ZZ98 999999 1000 425/- F/B
$20 NPA & Australia Post - 1999 Maritime Heritage $20 with pane of stamps (10 x 45 cents)
Red s/n MH99 000001 - MH99 001000
Black s/n MH99 001001 - MH99 003000
-
1000
2000
-
135/-
95/-
-
F/B
F/B


F/V TEN DOLLARS NOTE PORTRAITS Qty I/P Pic
$10 1998 - 2 notes with matching s/n, prefix AA98 & AB98, red s/n
Mounted on with frame
Unframed
1500 -
185/-
95/-
F/B

Legends F = Obverse, B = Reverse, F/V = Face Value, Qty = Quantity Issued, I/P = Issue Price, Pic = Scans

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