Australian pre-decimal banknotes
This page lists our current stock and prices of the rare and increasingly sought-after Aussie ten shillings, one pound, five pound and ten pound notes. We also have several bank bills and other banking documents from the early days of Australian banking.
Reference numbers in brackets (R12) refer to Renniks catalogue numbers.
We are gradually adding images to this page. Where images are shown, just click on the picture to enlarge it. Where images are not yet loaded, just send a quick email to aussiecoins@iprimus.com.au with details of the notes you wish to see and we will send high definition scans straight back.
Ten
Shillings
1928 Ten shillings, King George V,
Riddle Heathershaw signatures (R7), serial A73 999051, well-used but clean
and intact, colour fading a little but no significant detracting flaws.
Now quite rare in any grade: good fine A$1125
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1933 Ten shillings, King George V, Riddle Sheehan signatures (R9), serial C4 863985, light folds now barely visible and one professional repair in bottom left corner, also barely visible, strong colour: good extremely fine and very rare thus A$14,750
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1939 Ten shillings, King George VI, Sheehan McFarlane, orange signatures (R12), serial E94 812408, just one light side fold barely visible, otherwise crisp, flat and uncirculated: Ufold A$1785
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1939 Ten shillings, King George VI, Sheehan McFarlane, orange signatures (R12), serial E98 689799, some folds visible, but crisp and flat from storage, most attractive: extremely fine A$985
1939 Ten shillings, King George VI, Sheehan McFarlane, orange signatures (R12), serial E56 415327, significant folds and handling marks, very minor soiling, but uncleaned, intact and highly collectable: good fine A$245
1942 Ten shillings, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane, black signatures (R13), serial F82 356352, original crispness, uncleaned, strong colours. Some folds visible, but perfect edges and fresh appearance: good extremely fine A$625
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1942 Ten shillings, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane, black signatures (R13), serial G18 244606, light handling marks barely visible. Looks almost uncirculated but according to our strict grading: good extremely fine A$545
1942 Ten shillings, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane, black signatures (R13), serial F30 373904, strong colour. Professionally cleaned to look better than EF, but according to our strict grading: very fine A$375
1942 Ten shillings, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane, black signatures (R13), serial F28 722509, vertical and horizontal folds evident, otherwise nice collectable appearance: good fine A$210
1949 Ten shillings, King George VI, Coombs Watt signatures (R14), serial A26 474520, lovely note, three light vertical folds, otherwise near perfect. One of the nicest we have ever seen. Ufold A$825
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1949 Ten shillings, King George VI, Coombs Watt signatures (R14), serial A56 696203, original crispness, good edges and fresh clean appearance. Light vertical folds and small reverse spots of discoloration do not detract from overall excellent appearance. Looks good EF, but strictly: good very fine/almost extremely fine A$425
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1949 Ten shillings, King George VI, Coombs Watt signatures (R14), serial A58 068300, another item which look better than EF following years of careful flat storage: clean, flat and crisp but signs of light folds and handling visible in strong light. Most attractive: strictly good very fine/almost extremely fine A$355
1952 Ten shillings, King George VI, Coombs Wilson signatures (R15), serial B9 197895, strong colour, clean and crisp but faint sign of vertical centre fold suggests may have been cleaned. If so, done professionally. Highly attractive, looks unc but strictly: extremely fine A$625
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1954 Ten shillings, Queen Elizabeth, Coombs Wilson signatures (R16), Commonwealth Bank issue, serial AD00 854335, clean, almost blemish-free, just one light corner fold visible in strong light at a certain angle. Looks CFU but strictly Ufold A$395
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1954 Ten shillings, Queen Elizabeth, Coombs Wilson signatures (R16), Commonwealth Bank issue, serial AE37 300671, strong colour, clean, almost blemish-free, just the lightest foxing in one corner, otherwise CFU A$355
1954 Ten shillings, Queen Elizabeth, Coombs Wilson signatures (R16), Commonwealth Bank issue, serial AD06 378294, strong colour, clean, crisp, just two faint side folds barely visible, looks CFU but strictly: Ufold A$245
1961 Ten shillings, Queen Elizabeth, Coombs Wilson signatures (R17), Reserve Bank issue, serial AH53 752535, just one light teller flick barely visible, otherwise uncirculated, rare as such: Unc A$295
1961 Ten shillings, Queen Elizabeth, Coombs Wilson signatures (R17), Reserve Bank issue, serial AH64 664403, just the one horizontal fold visible, otherwise uncirculated, most attractive: Ufold A$235
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One
Pound
1918 One Pound, King
George V, Cerutty Collins signatures (R21),
serial C 771925 G, the first type of Australian one pound note, first
issued (with other signatures) in 1913. This specimen has
reasonably good colour, is completely intact with complete undamaged edges
and corners and no significant detracting flaws.
But it is quite well-used with extensive crinkles and folds and one line
of discoloration on the reverse. Nevertheless, very hard to find and increasingly
costly: grades as good or perhaps very good A$1475
1926 One Pound, King George V, Kell Collins signatures (R24), serial H69 486774, good colour, only light discoloration as usual, interesting printing flaw with what appears to be a printers' fingerprint in original green ink in top corner. Very hard to find in this condition: good fine/almost very fine A$1625
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1926 One Pound, King George
V, Kell Collins signatures (R24), serial H74
631446, ex Downies Auction June 2003, strong colour, a bit crinkly, but
a nice firm uncleaned unpressed fine A$955
1932 One Pound, King George
V, Riddle Sheehan signatures (R27b), thin Sheehan
signature, serial K86 397502, well-preserved: good fine A$925
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1938 One Pound, King George VI, Sheehan McFarlane, green signatures (R29), serial O79 896429, light folds and handling marks evident, but no damage whatsoever, well preserved, clean and crisp: good very fine A$425
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1938 One Pound, King George VI, Sheehan McFarlane, green signatures (R29), serial P42 482788, folds and handling marks evident, but no damage or discoloration, looks almost EF but strictly: very fine A$375
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1938 One Pound, King George VI, Sheehan McFarlane,
green signatures (R29), serial O62 274700, folds and handling
marks evident and light discoloration along top edge, but no damage and
thus quite attractive: good fine A$185
1942 One Pound, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane signatures (R30a), serial H30 830032, dark green print, as issued, very well preserved, light curvature from storage in a roll at some stage: uncirculated A$625
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1942 One Pound, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane signatures (R30a), "000" serials, H60 433000, dark green print, light folds barely visible and minor edge foxing, very well preserved: almost uncirculated A$495
1949 One Pound, King George VI, Coombs Watt signatures (R31), serial I87 308852, most attractive, uncleaned and quite rare in this condition: extremely fine A$365
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1952 One Pound, King George VI, Coombs Wilson signatures (R32), serial X17 854899, significant signs of circulation, but fully intact, uncleaned and quite collectable in this condition: fine A$95
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1953 One Pound, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R33), Commonwealth Bank CONSECUTIVE PAIR, serials HA48 435400/1, light centre folds, handling marks and slight curvature from storage in a roll, light burring and foxing on one edge, but uncleaned, unpressed and most attractive in this condition: good extremely fine A$545 for the pair
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1953 One Pound, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R33), Commonwealth Bank, serial HC03 282754, probably cleaned but professionally so; clean and undamaged, but appears to have lost its original crispness; looks EF but strictly just: very fine A$105
1961 One Pound, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R34b), Reserve Bank, serial HK09 841805, emerald green reverse, virtually flawless, quite rare as such: CFU A$340
1961 One Pound, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R34b), Reserve Bank, serial HK23 740644, emerald green reverse, visible crinkling on top edge and isolated obverse areas of light leather colour both probably from being stored in a wallet, but uncleaned, unpressed and most attractive thus: extremely fine A$125
Five Pounds
1933 Five Pounds, King George V, Riddle
Sheehan signatures, pink face of King (R44a), Commonwealth Bank issue,
serial R7 788825, ex Downies Auction February 1996, strong colours, very
hard to find this condition: good very fine A$6250
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1933 Five Pounds, King George V, Riddle Sheehan signatures, white face of King (R44b), Commonwealth Bank issue, serial R14 260772, ex Noble Auction 1996, flattened in storage but an excellent example of this rare item: very fine A$3550
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1941 Five Pounds, King
George VI, Armitage McFarlane signatures (R46), serial R54
546631, light folds and handling marks visible on close inspection, but
presents as a clean, fresh and highly collectable note: good very fine
A$785
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1941 Five Pounds, King
George VI, Armitage McFarlane signatures (R46), serial R73
992775, some wear and tear, including a small and almost invisible cut
above the last A in Australia, but still highly collectable: well above
average A$125
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1952 Five Pounds, King George VI, Coombs Wilson signatures (R48), serial S41 987167, firm, crisp, clean, traces of a light centre fold, one side fold and a corner fold but now well flattened after more than 50 years in storage. Looks virtually uncirculated. Excellent example: good extremely fine A$1790
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1952 Five Pounds, King George VI, Coombs Wilson signatures (R48), serial S29 781163, light folds and handling marks visible, but crisp and uncleaned, highly attractive appearance: good very fine A$765
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1954 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R49), Commonwealth Bank, serial TA67 951845, only the lightest signs of handling in collection, otherwise virtually crisp flat uncirculated, a superb example A$895
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1954 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R49), Commonwealth Bank, serial TA12 134261, significant handling marks from circulation, but still clean and crisp with good edges: good fine A$265
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1960 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R50), Reserve Bank, serial TD06 114326, just one light corner flick, otherwise perfect: virtually crisp flat uncirculated A$825
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1960 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R50), Reserve Bank, serial TD05 660874, light centre fold and one light corner flick, but highly appealing: Ufold A$645
1960 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R50), Reserve Bank, serial TC83 251523, a few light folds and some crinkling from very limited circulation, but completely clean and crisp: good very fine/almost extremely fine A$325
1960 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R50), Reserve Bank, serial TB63 606288, light vertical folds and some crinkling from limited circulation, but completely clean and quite crisp: very fine A$165
1960 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R50), Reserve Bank, serial TB64 004393, normal signs of handling in circulation, but excellent edges and corners; no disfiguring flaws at all: about fine A$95
1960 Five Pounds, Queen Elizabeth II, Coombs Wilson signatures (R50), Reserve Bank, serial TD01 338652, normal signs of handling in circulation, but excellent edges and corners; slight rubbing of green on one side and red on the other as a result of long storage between a one pound and a ten pound note; otherwise no detracting flaws at all: good average condition A$75
Ten Pounds
1940 Ten pounds, King George VI, first
of the George VI issues, Sheehan McFarlane signatures (R58), red signatures,
serial V3 525351, light folds and crinkling visible but crisp and flat
due to pressed storage. One highly professional repair to the left edge
is visible when held up to the light, otherwise not noticeable. Now quite
rare in this condition: good very fine - almost extremely fine
A$5250
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1943 Ten Pounds, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane signatures (R59), serial V8 306681, black signatures, excellent example of this rare item, lightest folds barely visible due to flat storage for many years: virtually crisp flat uncirculated A$6350
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1943 Ten Pounds, King George VI, Armitage McFarlane signatures (R59), serial V11 396261, black signatures, well preserved example, flattened in storage, minor paper flaw does not detract: looks uncirculated but strictly good extremely fine A$3295
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1954 Ten Pounds, Queen Elizabth II, Coombs Wilson signatures, Commonwealth Bank (R62), serial WA15 222381, possibly cleaned and flattened, if so done professionally. Light centre fold and teller flicks faintly visible, looks CFU but strictly: good extremely fine A$1195
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1960 Ten Pounds, Queen Elizabth II, Coombs Wilson signatures, Reserve Bank (R63), serial WA40 466808, highly attractive specimen, just very light paper discoloration, probably from storage, otherwise looks CFU. Strictly about uncirculated A$1325
1960 Ten Pounds, Queen Elizabth II, Coombs Wilson signatures, Reserve Bank (R63), serial WA54 651280, well circulated, so considerable crinkling, but no pinholes or tears and only light paper discoloration, still quite collectable, very good A$95
Early
Australian bank bills and documents
A
selection of scarce historical official banking documents, in excellent
condition, which should prove a sound medium to long term investment.
1898 English Scottish & Australian Bank Limited bank bill, Snowtown branch, for two pounds, dated 14 May 1898. Pink print on off-white paper, colour fading slightly, embossed with plain stamp for one penny, with four official bank stamps. Good collectable condition for a note so old, with some edge fraying and just one small spike hole. click here for image A$35
1898 English Scottish & Australian Bank Limited bank bill, Snowtown branch, for one pound, dated 31 October 1898. Pink print on off-white paper, colour fading slightly, embossed with plain stamp for one penny, stamped PAID with black bank stamp. Highly collectable condition for such an old note, just one small spike hole. click here for image A$35
1916 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, Perth branch, for 459 pounds, 1 shillings and 1 penny, dated 10th May 1916. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, red postage revenue stamp for one penny, three official bank stamps. Reasonably good condition, with some vertical folds, a more severe fold at right, one spike hole and the usual small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 18
1916 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, Perth branch, for 129 pounds, 7 shillings and 4 pence, dated 31 August 1916. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, red postage revenue stamp for one penny (uncancelled), one official purple Launceston bank stamp. Highly collectable condition, with light vertical folds and a few small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 45
1916 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, Perth branch, for 130 pounds, 9 shillings and 4 pence, also dated 31 August 1916. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, red postage revenue stamp for one penny (uncancelled), one official purple Launceston bank stamp. Exceptionally good condition for such an early document, with very light folds and only a few small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 45
1916 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, London branch, for 62 pounds, 2 shillings and 6 pence, dated 4th November1916. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, red postage revenue stamp for one penny (uncancelled), one official purple Launceston bank stamp. Very good condition, with very light folds and only a few small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 35
1917 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, Launceston branch, for 256 pounds, 14 shillings and 11 pence, dated 9 November 1917. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, red postage revenue stamp for one penny, one purple official Launceston bank stamp. Highly collectable condition, with some vertical folds and a few small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 30
1918 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, Launceston branch, for 210 pounds, 13 shillings and 3 pence, dated 9 May 1918. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, red postage revenue stamp for one penny, one purple official Launceston bank stamp, counterstamped BNSW London. Quite well-preserved, with some crinkles and vertical folds and a few small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 25
1919 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, Perth Scotland branch, for 264 pounds, 14 shillings and 6 pence, dated 29 November 1919. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, orange postage revenue stamp for two pence, one purple official Launceston bank stamp, counterstamped BNSW London. Reasonably well-preserved, with some crinkles and vertical folds, light discoloration at lower right and a few small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 18
1920 Commercial Bank of Tasmania Limited bank bill, Perth branch, for 273 pounds, 15 shillings and 4 pence, dated 13th March 1920. Black print on off-white paper, with Original overprinted in red, orange postage revenue stamp for two pence, counterstamped BNSW London. Well-preserved, with a few crinkles, some vertical folds and the usual small pin or staple holes. click here for image A$ 22
1900s Barclays Bank Limited, London branch, blank cheque form stamped for Farm Ac in lower right corner. Black print on off-white paper with fine blue background microprint 'barclaysbanklimited'. Date 19__ and numbered 2/C 296557. Very well-preserved, near original condition. click here for image A$ 14
1900s The Savings Bank of South Australia, Adelaide branch, blank money order form stamped for the Signal and Telegraph Employees' Association. Black print with purple stamp on cream paper. Date 19__ . Exceptionally well-preserved, perfect original condition. click here for image A$ 38
1910s Bank of Australasia, Adelaide branch, blank cheque forms printed for the South Australian Ancient Order of Druids Friendly Society, printed two to a sheet with perforated centre line and perforated cheque buts. Very large format: each sheet 29 x 22 cms. Green print with yellow background on cream paper. Date 191_ . Three pairs of two fastener holes at left. Very well-preserved, excellent near original condition. click here for image A$ 18
1911 Western Australia 3 1/2 per cent Inscribed Stock dividend form no. 7573, paying interest of 17 pounds 10 shillings and 4 pence from the London County and Westminster Bank Limited, due 1 October 1911. Cream coloured document with red print. Purchased from a hoard found recently in London. Very well-preserved, excellent near original condition. email us for image A$ 12
1939 Commonwealth of Australia 4 per cent Registered Stock dividend form C12, paying interest of 76 pounds 7 shillings and 4 pence from the London branch, dated 16 October 1939. Light brown coloured document with darker brown and red print. Purchased from a hoard found recently in London. Very well-preserved, excellent near original condition. email us for image A$ 12
1939 Commonwealth of Australia 3 per cent Registered Stock dividend form C7, paying interest of 20 pounds from the London branch, dated 16 October 1939. Cream coloured document with black and red print. Purchased from a hoard found recently in London. Very well-preserved, excellent near original condition. email us for image A$ 12
Special: all three above dividend forms: 1911, 1939 and 1939, found recently in London, excellent condition. email us for images A$ 25
1963 postal note Commonwealth of Australia, one shilling, black on off white with light blue background, number G763594, date stamp Flemington Victoria Australia, 10JA63, several light folds and some reverse discoloration, but wholly intact with good corners and edes. Quite rare as such. click here for image A$ 145
1965 decimal currency request card for change-over of business equipment. Black print on light brown card, printed both sides. Exceptionally well-preserved, perfect original condition. click here for image A$ 18
1974 The State Savings Bank of Victoria, Ballarat branch, processed cheque payable to B D Greene from Lakeside Hospital Ballarat for $44.23. Black print with purple PAID stamp on white and yellow paper. Date 2 Apr 1974. Quite well-preserved, but with three folds, some light crinkling, one metal staple and one spike hole. click here for image A$ 12
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Selling
your coins or banknotes
Please contact us at aussiecoins@iprimus.com.au
if you have any Australian coins or banknotes to sell.