Polymer series

In 1988, the Reserve Bank of Australia issued a plastic, specifically polypropylene polymer banknote to commemorate the country's bicentenary of European settlement. These notes contained a transparent 'window' with an optically variable image of Captain James Cook as a security feature. Australian currency was the first in the world to use such features.

The revolutionary polymer notes have proven their success since the issue of the first, a commemorative note of $10 denomination. These notes provide much greater security against counterfeiting (подделка). They also last four times as long as paper notes. The polymer notes are cleaner than paper notes and easily recyclable.

The first polymer banknote, the 1988 Australian $10 note

Australia's notes are printed by Note Printing Australia, a Division of the Reserve Bank. Note Printing Australia has so far produced polymer notes for Papua New

Guinea, Indonesia, Kuwait, Western Samoa, Singapore, Brunei, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Many other countries are showing a strong interest in the new technology.

The Australian currency

Australia's currency consists of coins of five, 10, 20 and 50 cent and one and two dollar denomination; and notes of five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar denomination.

Australian $5 note

Sir Henry Parkes, ‘Father of Federation’

Catherine Helen Spence, journalist, social reformer and novelist.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Old and New Parliament House

AB 'Banjo' Paterson (1864–1941). Poet, ballad writer, journalist and horseman.

Dame Mary Gilmore (1865–1962). Author, journalist, poet, patriot and tireless campaigner against injustice and deprivation.

Mary Reibey (1777–1855). Pioneer business woman with interests in shipping and property.

Reverend John Flynn (1880–1951). Pioneered the world's first aerial medical service, now known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

David Unaipon (1872–1967). Writer, public speaker and inventor.

David Unaipon made significant contributions to science and literature, and to improvements in the conditions of Aboriginal people.

Edith Cowan (1861–1932). Social worker, politician and feminist.

Edith Cowan is best remembered as the first woman member of an Australian parliament.

Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931). World renowned soprano.

In her lifetime, Dame Nellie Melba achieved international recognition as a soprano and enjoyed an unrivalled 'super-star' status within Australia.

Sir John Monash (1865–1931). Soldier, engineer and administrator, one of Australia's greatest military commanders.