1998 Australia Ten Dollars Polymer – GL 98 – Last Prefix

Design

A remarkable banknote in every way with abundant security features.

This note had some extremely special features built into it as security against forgery. It was a world first and makes these notes highly desirable as collectors items. Collectors value numerous variations of this note. The 10 dollar note embraces these following security features:

1. Within the clear window is a stylised windmill along with embossing of a wave pattern which can be seen from either side of the note.

2. When the note is held up to the light you will see a seven pointed star within a circle which is formed, by four points on one side of the note that combine perfectly with three points on the other.

3. When the note is held to the light an image of the Australian Coat of Arms can be seen under other printing.

4. Slightly raised printing (intaglio) can be felt with your fingers, this is used on selected parts of the design such as the portraits of Dame Mary Gilmore and Banjo Paterson, the word Australia and the numeral 10.

5. On one side of the note, verse from the poem The Man from Snowy River are microprinted in the area surrounding Banjo Paterson’s portrait and can be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. Between each stanza of the poem are the words TEN DOLLARS.

6. On the other side of the note verse from the poem No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest are microprinted around Dame Mary Gilmore and can be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. Between each stanza are the words TEN DOLLARS.

7. Intricate multi-coloured fine-line patterns and images appear on each side of the note.

8. The serial number of each note is printed twice in blue on the back of the note. A different font is used for each serial number. The alpha prefix of two letters is followed by two numerals representing the year of the production, followed by a further six numerals. Under ultra-violet light, these serial numbers fluoresce.

Obverse:Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson (17 February 1864 – 5 February 1941) was a famous Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales where he spent much of his childhood. Paterson’s more notable poems include “Waltzing Matilda”, “The Man from Snowy River” and “Clancy of the Overflow”.

Reverse:Dame Mary Jean Gilmore DBE (16 August 1865 – 3 December 1962) was a prominent Australian socialist poet and journalist. In 1890, Gilmore moved to Sydney, where she became part of the “Bulletin school” of radical writers. Although the greatest influence on her work was Henry Lawson it was A. G. Stephens, literary editor of The Bulletin, who published her verse and established her reputation as a fiery radical poet, champion of the workers and the oppressed.

Watermark: With the introduction of the new polymer banknotes we saw the end of the customary watermark. It was replaced with a Variable Optical Security Device in the bottom corner.