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POCKET GUIDE TO AUSTRALIAN BANKNOTES 5 A New Vision for Banknotes NEXT GENERATION OF BANKNOTES

Next Generation of Banknotes | 2016–2020

The foundation of the banknote is a clear, laminated polymer film. Printing plates, special inks and high-technology printing machinery transform this film into a banknote. Major design elements, such as portraits, are printed by intaglio printing, using engraved metal plates. At a final stage, two layers of a protective overcoating or varnish are applied.

The banknotes were printed by Note Printing Australia, a separately incorporated, wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank, located in Craigieburn, Victoria.

$5

The signature side of the $5 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in September 2016.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D16/196230.

Photograph of Queen Elizabeth II by John Lawrence, 1984.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, P12/272.

Tonal sketch of Queen Elizabeth II, together with an example of line analysis for intaglio printing by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 20/1274, 20/1275.

The serial side of the $5 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in September 2016.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D16/196235.

$10

The signature side of the $10 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in September 2017.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D17/52177.

Photograph of Banjo Paterson used to advertise his lectures on the Boer War and adapted for the $10 banknote.

Newspix.

Tonal sketch of Banjo Paterson, together with an example of line analysis for intaglio printing by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 17/1078, 17/1212.

The serial side of the $10 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in September 2017.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D17/52175.

Photograph of Mary Gilmore adapted for the $10 banknote.

Newspix.

Tonal sketch of Mary Gilmore, together with an example of line analysis for intaglio printing by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 17/1081, 17/1085.

$20

The signature side of the $20 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in October 2019.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D19/52810.

Miniature portrait of Mary Reibey by an unknown artist, watercolour on ivory, circa 1835.

State Library of NSW.

Tonal sketch of Mary Reibey together with an example of line analysis for intaglio printing by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 20/1271, 20/1272.

The serial side of the $20 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in October 2019.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D19/52129.

Photograph of the Reverend John Flynn, circa 1929.

National Library of Australia.

Tonal sketch of the Reverend John Flynn together with an example of line analysis for intaglio printing by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 20/1270, 20/1269.

$50

The signature side of the $50 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in October 2018.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D18/41660.

Photograph of David Unaipon from the manuscript of Legendary Tales of Australian Aborigines.

State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Ms Judy Kropinyieri.

Tonal sketch of David Unaipon together with an example of line analysis for intaglio printing by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 18/7891, 18/7890.

The serial number side of the $50 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in October 2018.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D18/41659.

Photograph of Edith Cowan by Ruskin Studio, 1921.

State Library of Western Australia.

Tonal sketch of Edith Cowan together with an example of line analysis for intaglio printing by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives 18/7893, 18/7892.

$100

The signature side of the $100 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in October 2020.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D20/43205.

Tonal sketch of Dame Nellie Melba by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia, used for the development of the banknote's portrait.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 20/1301.

The serial number side of the $100 banknote, offset and intaglio printing on polymer substrate; concept design by emerystudio, first issued in October 2020.

Reserve Bank of Australia, D20/43213.

Photograph of Sir John Monash, 1912.

National Library of Australia.

Tonal sketch of Sir John Monash by Robert Cook of Note Printing Australia, used for the development of the banknote's portrait.

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives, 20/1302.

A New Vision for Banknotes


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