Five dollar note (Australian)

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The Australian five dollar banknote was issued one year after the currency was changed from the Australian pound to the Australian dollar on 14 February 1966. It was a new denomination, as the Pound system had no £2.5, with a new mauve colouration. There have been four different issues of this denomination: a paper note which had a gradient of mauve, with a distinct black overprint. The polymer issue which can be recognised for its distinct mauve colouration, was first issued in pale mauve (1992), then from 1995 a purple colour. A federation commemorative was issued in 2001 for that year only.

According to Reserve Bank statistics, at the end of June 2006 there was a net value of $572 million dollars in $5 notes in circulation, with a 1.5% cash value of all issued currency. Actual banknotes in circulation account for 13.3% of all denomonations, or 114 million banknotes. ^[1]

Since the start of issuence there have been 16 signature combinations, of which the 1967 issue is of the greatest value, issued for 2 year's only; and the 1990 Fraser/Higgens being issued for less than a year.

From 1967-1974 the main title identifying the country was Commonwealth of Australia, there were 195,504,000 notes issued in its life. This was subsequently changed to Australia until the end of the issuence of paper currency for this denomination in 1992 with 978,068,318 of these notes being issued.

[edit] Design

[edit] Security 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 metalic strip first near the centre of the note, than from 1976 was 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 pointed star with 4 points on the obverse and 3 on the reverse which join under light. The clear window has a eucalyptus flower showing. Raised print and micro printing of the denomination name are included.^[2]