This fantastic pair of consecutive notes are both from the 3rd release of the bicentennial commemorative $10 polymer notes.
Both are in mint uncirculated condition. Still housed in their original NPA (Note Printing Australia) folders as well.
The notes has only been removed once for the purpose of photographing them.
On one note you get the highly desirable Radar number “068860”.
They really do make a magic pair not only for the serious collector but for anyone looking for a premium investment opportunity.
Some people like to collect the full run of all 24 prefixes as these notes have one of the smallest prefix runs of any notes. AA00 – AA23.
Design
Design Details and Serial Number Sequences:
The worlds very first polymer banknote. Released in 1988 to celebrate the Bicentennary of Australia. This note had an extremely special features built 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 coloured Bicentennial Commemorative $10 Note Folder. These are the most common on the market given that more people kept them as momentos 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 symbolise all those who have contributed to Australia. From the left we see the early settlers and to right the modern working man.
Reverse:Design 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.
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 metallic strip, first near the centre of the note, then from 1976 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 raised image in the clear panel of wavy lines. Also for this issue fluorescent colouring was added to the serial numbers. A star with four points on the obverse and three on the reverse which join under light. Raised print and micro printing of the denomination name are included. 1988 Commemorative note was the first issue to include a optically variable device of Captain James Cook who first mapped Botany Bay.
History
The “Morning Star Pole” depicted horizontally behind the Aboriginal youth has a fascinating background. The rising of Venus marks an important ceremony of the Yolngu, who call it Barnumbirr (“Morning Star”) They gather after sunset to await the rising of the planet. As she approaches, in the early hours before dawn, the Yolngu say that she draws behind her a rope of light attached to the island of Baralku on Earth, and along this rope, with the aid of a richly decorated “Morning Star Pole”, the people are able to communicate with their dead loved ones, showing that they still love and remember them.
*All biographical details are taken from Wikipedia for education purposes only.