This is a truly superb run of six consecutive notes from the 2nd release of the Bicentenary series. These are the notes that were released with the heavier varnish to protect the hologram and keep it from lifting off.
Single examples are still available but the smaller runs of sequential notes such as these offered here are becoming increasingly rare and highly sought after.
The polymer technology was innovative for its time and has now been taken up by a huge number of countries world wide. Adaption and further development of the polymer medium has now come a long way and version of the notes with tactile markings for blind people are now being considered.
There have been a lot of $10 polymer notes released over the last 25 years but only these had the wonderful indigenous design that make them so uniquely Australian.
Your chance to own a fantastic numismatic collectible awaits you here.
Design
The world’s very first polymer banknote. Released in 1988 to celebrate the Bicentennary of Australia. This note had an extremely special featuresbuilt into it as security against forgery being a hologram of Captain James Cook. It was a world first and makes these notes highly desirable as collectors items. Collectors value numerous variations of this note due to initial production problems.
 There were 3 releases of this note due to initial technical difficulties with the production techniques.
The first release AB10 – AB33 (with the first 2 digits of the serial number being either 93, 94 or 96) The note had a thin varnish over the hologram which proved to wear out very quickly. When the problem was identified the printing ceased.
The second release AB10-AB57 (followed by regular serial numbers) used the same prefixes as the first release but did not employ the 93,94,96 sequence after it. When printing resumed on this second run they applied a darker heavier varnish to the note which proved to work a great deal better.
The third release AA00-AA23 were released to the general public in blue colored Bicentennial Commemorative $10 Note Folder. These are the most common on the market given that more people kept them as momentoes and they did not suffer from the initial printing process errors of the previous two issues.
Obverse:
This design included the sailing ship HMS Supply anchored at Sydney Cove with a depiction of the early colonials in the background. These people symbolize all those who have contributed to Australia. From the left we see the early settlers and to right the modern working man.
Reverse:
Reverse includes portraits of the native population, the main picture is a young native youth with ceremonial paint, and in the background is a traditional Aboriginal Morning Star Pole also appearing are other Aboriginal artworks also commissioned by the RBA and a human like figure from the Dream Time.
Watermark:
1988 Commemorative note was the first to employ the optically variable device of Captain James Cook who first mapped Botany Bay.
History
Better thought of as Australia’s national science agency the C.S.I.R.O. Â (The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) has been responsible over the years for a huge number of highly successful and innovative inventions and technological breakthroughs.
Whether you are looking at climate control, oceanography, astronomy, animal health or a fix for insect control then this agency has been out in front on a great many occasions.
Recent funding cut backs by the newly Federal Government in Australia could well see the privatization of this uniquely Australian icon of industry and science. A tragic blow for the future of Australian sciences on the world platform.
The development of polymer bank notes has been without a doubt probably the most well known of their successes if you disregard Aerogard that has become a national icon at every bar-b-que and beach outing in the last 60 years.
