Damon Mcknight
Australian banknotes are made from polymer plastic, which gives them a distinctive waxy feel and makes them waterproof, durable, and difficult to counterfeit. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) prints the notes, which are designed with security and durability in mind, and feature bold colours, microprint, and a tactile feature to assist the visually impaired. The process of making the notes starts with plastic pellets, which are melted and blown into a three-storey bubble, before being printed with special inks and cut into individual notes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Australian banknotes are made of polymer plastic, which gives them a waxy feel. |
| Durability | Polymer banknotes last 2-3 times longer than paper notes. They are waterproof, resistant to dirt, and challenging to counterfeit. |
| Design Process | The design process involves two parts: concept design, focusing on artwork and general appearance, and "banknotisation" design, which integrates features to ensure functionality, security, and durability. |
| Printing | The notes are printed by Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA) in Victoria. |
| Serial Numbering | Since 1993, Australian banknotes have been numbered using a Year-Dated System, with each banknote on a sheet having a different letter prefix. |
| Security Features | The notes incorporate advanced security features, including special inks, clear windows, and a tactile feature to assist the visually impaired in identifying denominations. |
| Denominations | There are currently five denominations of banknotes in circulation: $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. |
| Artwork | The notes feature bold, vivid colours and microprint. The $5 note includes a rolling colour effect, creating the illusion of a native bird in motion when moved a certain way. |
| Size and Colour | Each note is a different size and colour, making it easy to distinguish between denominations by touch and sight. |
| Portrayals | The notes feature important Australians and special Australian designs. The $5 note previously featured Queen Elizabeth II, with a new design honouring First Australians in development. |
| Replacement | Worn and damaged notes are shredded, melted, and reformed into plastic beads for other products. |
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Design process
The design process for Australian banknotes involves two distinct parts: concept design and 'banknotisation' design. The concept design stage involves deciding on the artwork and the general look of the banknote, while the 'banknotisation' design stage involves integrating all the features into the design to make it functional, secure, and durable.
The process starts with a plastic film made from polypropylene, which is melted, stretched, blown into a large bubble, and then flattened again. Strong colours are then applied to both sides of the note using detailed printing techniques, creating bold, vivid colours and built-in security features through the use of fine details and microprint.
One of the key security features of Australian banknotes is the top-to-bottom window, which involves transferring foil onto the banknote using heat and pressure. Another security feature is the rolling colour effect, where a thick layer of coloured ink is applied, and the pigments are structured using magnets to create a unique design. The intaglio print, a traditional process used in banknotes worldwide, adds texture and helps with authentication.
The design process also considers the size and colour of the banknotes. Each note is a different size and colour, making it difficult to mix up denominations. For example, the $50 note is larger and yellow, while the $5 note is smaller and purple. Australian banknotes are made of polymer, giving them a waxy feel and making them waterproof, durable, and resistant to dirt.
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Printing
The printing of Australian banknotes is undertaken by Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA), a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, at its facility in Craigieburn, Victoria. The printing process involves several intricate steps, starting with the melting and blowing of plastic pellets into a three-storey bubble, which is then flattened into a film of polypropylene polymer.
The next step involves applying strong colours on both sides of the note, using fine detailed printing to achieve bold and vivid colours. This includes transferring foil with heat and pressure, akin to ironing, to integrate security features such as a top-to-bottom window.
A rolling colour effect is then applied, using magnets to structure the pigments within the wet ink, which is then locked in place with a UV lamp. This technique creates a unique design where the image of an eastern spinebill, a native bird, appears to move its wings and change colours when the note is tilted.
Following this, the intaglio print is applied to both sides of the note, giving it texture and aiding in authentication. The background colours and patterns are printed onto polymer sheets simultaneously using high-speed printing machines, which can print at least 8,000 sheets per hour.
Finally, the tactile feature, consisting of raised bumps on the long edges, is applied in a final print run to assist the visually impaired in identifying denominations. The sheets are then cut into individual banknotes, inspected for quality, shrink-wrapped, and stored securely before distribution.
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Security features
Australian banknotes are made with a variety of security features to prevent counterfeiting. The notes are printed on sheets of polymer substrate, which are more durable and harder to replicate than traditional paper notes. The use of polymer also makes the notes waterproof and resistant to moisture and dirt, further enhancing their longevity.
One key security feature is the intricate design of the notes, which includes fine details, microprint, and bold, vivid colours. The microprinting is extremely small and detailed, making it difficult to replicate. The notes also feature a top-to-bottom window, which contains a number of security elements, including foil that is transferred with heat and pressure. This complex process adds another layer of security.
The intaglio printing process is another important security feature. This traditional technique gives the notes a distinct texture and body, allowing individuals to easily authenticate the notes by touch. The intaglio print is applied to both sides of the note and is a well-established method for securing banknotes worldwide.
Additionally, Australian banknotes incorporate special inks and pigments to create unique visual effects. By manipulating the pigments within the ink using magnetic fields, a rolling colour effect is achieved. This dynamic design element further enhances security by making counterfeiting more challenging. To finalise the design, the ink is cured using a UV lamp, locking in the desired artwork.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is continuously working to upgrade the security of the country's banknotes. The most recent series of notes includes a tactile feature, consisting of raised bumps along the long edges, to assist the visually impaired community in identifying denominations. This feature not only aids accessibility but also adds another layer of security to the notes.
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Distribution
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is responsible for the distribution of Australian money notes. The RBA ensures that the finished banknotes are shrink-wrapped and packed into containers before being stored in a secure location prior to distribution across the country.
The distribution process involves transporting the shrink-wrapped and securely packed banknotes from the storage facility to various destinations across Australia. This may involve coordinating with logistics companies and security firms to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of the banknotes to their intended locations.
The RBA likely has established relationships with reputable transportation and security companies to facilitate the distribution process. These companies would be responsible for the secure and timely delivery of the banknotes to banks, financial institutions, and other designated locations.
The distribution process would also involve strict security protocols to safeguard the banknotes during transit. This may include armed escorts, GPS tracking, and secure transportation vehicles equipped with advanced surveillance and monitoring systems.
Additionally, the RBA may implement measures to track and manage the distribution process, including real-time monitoring, inventory management, and coordination with local authorities to ensure a smooth and secure distribution of the banknotes throughout Australia.
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Inflation and replacement
The Reserve Bank of Australia has a program in place to upgrade the security of Australia's banknotes. Worn and damaged notes are taken out of circulation, shredded into small pieces, melted, and reformed into plastic beads, which can then be used to make other plastic products.
The introduction of higher-denomination notes in Australia has historically been a response to inflation. For example, the $50 note was introduced in 1973, and the $100 note in 1984, in response to inflation requiring larger denominations for transactions. Similarly, the $1 and $2 notes were replaced by $1 and $2 coins, respectively, in 1984 and 1988, due to inflation.
Despite the amount of inflation that has occurred since the $100 note was introduced in 1984, the Reserve Bank currently has no plans to release fourth series notes in denominations higher than $100.
The Australian currency was decimalised on 14 February 1966, replacing the Australian pound with the Australian dollar. This change was made to simplify calculations, as the Australian pound was worth 20 shillings or 240 pence, and the new currency was decimal-based, with one dollar divided into 100 cents.
The Reserve Bank of Australia also has an inflation calculator available on its website, which is updated regularly with current data. This calculator provides a guide to the changes in consumer prices in Australia over time.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian banknotes are made of a polymer, which has a waxy feel. They are printed on sheets of polymer substrate using various printing plates, processes, machines, and inks.
The process starts with a plastic film, which is essentially some polypropylene that is melted, stretched, blown into a big bubble, and then squashed back down to get a film. Special inks are applied to make the film opaque, except for certain areas left free of ink to create clear windows. The film is then cut into sheets. Different-sized sheets are used for each denomination, and the number of banknotes printed on a sheet varies.
The original notes were designed by Gordon Andrews, who rejected traditional Australian clichés in favour of interesting and familiar subjects such as Aboriginal culture, women, the environment, architecture, and aeronautics.
Australian banknotes are printed by Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Strong colours are applied on both sides of the note in very fine detailed print. The way the pigments sit within the ink is structured using magnets, which are applied while the ink is still wet. This gives the artwork its coloured effects.
