What Does Australian Money Look Like?

Australian Banknotes

Australian banknotes are printed on polymer, offering enhanced durability and resistance to counterfeiting. This material allows for innovative security features and contributes to a longer lifespan. The current series includes denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, each identifiable by its unique color.

The $5 banknote is primarily purple, featuring Queen Elizabeth II, Old and New Parliament Houses, Prickly Moses wattle, and the Eastern Spinebill bird. The blue $10 banknote showcases literary figures A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson and Dame Mary Gilmore, with bramble wattle and a sulphur-crested cockatoo. Microprint on the $10 note includes excerpts from their poetry.

The red $20 banknote features businesswoman Mary Reibey and Reverend John Flynn, including a Port Jackson schooner, an RFDS De Havilland aircraft, a Box-leaf Wattle, and a Laughing Kookaburra. The yellow $50 note depicts Aboriginal author and inventor David Unaipon and social reformer Edith Cowan. It incorporates Unaipon’s Ngarrindjeri nation shields, Cowan’s gumnut brooch, an Acacia humifusa, and a Black Swan.

The green $100 banknote features opera singer Dame Nellie Melba and World War I General Sir John Monash. It includes images from Melba’s concert tour program and Monash’s military service, along with the Acacia pycnantha and the Australian Masked Owl. Each banknote also incorporates a clear window, a transparent section that serves as a security feature.

Australian Coins

Australian coins circulate in denominations of 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1, and $2. The obverse side of all coins features a portrait of the reigning monarch, primarily Queen Elizabeth II, with newer coins featuring King Charles III. The reverse side of each coin displays distinct Australian animals or symbols.

The 5-cent coin is small and round, featuring an echidna on its reverse. The 10-cent coin, also round, displays a lyrebird, known for its elaborate tail feathers. The 20-cent coin is larger and round, showcasing a platypus. These three coins are silver in color and composed of copper-nickel.

The 50-cent coin is unique for its dodecagonal, or 12-sided, shape and is the largest coin in circulation. Its reverse side features the Australian Coat of Arms. The $1 coin is round and gold in color, depicting five kangaroos in motion. The $2 coin, also gold-colored, is smaller than the $1 coin and features an archetypal Aboriginal elder, the Southern Cross, and native grasstrees. Both dollar coins are made from a composition of copper, aluminum, and nickel.

Security Features

The polymer material of Australian banknotes is a primary security feature, making them difficult to counterfeit and resistant to tearing. This plastic substrate also allows for several advanced anti-counterfeiting measures.

A prominent feature is the clear window, an integral part of the banknote. Within this transparent area, specific elements exhibit a rolling color effect when the note is tilted, such as a bird moving its wings or a number changing direction. For visually impaired individuals, banknotes include tactile features, such as raised dots.

Microprinting, tiny legible text, is incorporated into the design and requires magnification. Fluorescent features glow under ultraviolet (UV) light, revealing specific patterns or serial numbers. Reversible numbers appear correctly when viewed from both sides, ensuring perfect alignment. The robustness of the polymer notes further contributes to their security and durability.