Omari Gates
Australian banknotes are made from polymer plastic, which makes them highly durable and difficult to replicate. In 1988, Australia became the first country to issue polymer notes, replacing paper currency by 1996. The Reserve Bank of Australia issues the notes, which are produced by Note Printing Australia. The notes are made from a thin plastic film, which is created by melting and stretching polypropylene into a bubble shape, then squashing it back down into a flat sheet. This film is then printed with intaglio, giving the notes texture and body. The process also includes applying strong colours in detailed prints, microprinting, and rolling colour effects. The polymer notes are stronger, harder to copy, and last longer than paper notes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Polymer plastic |
| Texture | Intaglio print on both sides |
| Colour | Bold, vivid colours |
| Size | Varied |
| Security Features | Microprinting, rolling colour effect, UV-visible printing, tactile features |
| Durability | Strong, long-lasting, difficult to replicate |
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What You'll Learn
Australian dollar notes are made of polymer plastic
The polymer plastic notes are highly durable and difficult to replicate. The worn and damaged banknotes are shredded into small pieces, melted, and reformed into plastic beads, which can be used to make other plastic products. The process of making the notes 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.
The polymer notes are stronger, harder to copy, and last longer than paper notes. They have distinct denominations with different sizes, colours, and images depicted on them. The Reserve Bank also changed the individuals depicted on the currency, becoming one of only five other countries in the world that depict a greater number of women than men on their banknotes.
The new $5 note, issued on 1 September 2016, includes a tactile feature to help the visually impaired community to tell the value of the note. The design of all notes (except for the $5 note picturing the Queen) was slightly changed to include the names of the people pictured on them under the portraits.
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They were the first country to use polymer notes
Australia was the first country to introduce polymer banknotes, in 1988. The Reserve Bank of Australia issued $10 notes made from polypropylene polymer to commemorate the bicentenary of European settlement in the country. These notes featured a transparent "window" with a diffractive optically variable device (DOVD) image of Captain James Cook as a security feature. Australian notes were the first in the world to use such advanced security features.
The Reserve Bank saw the potential in the new plastic notes and began preparations for a new series made from polymer, starting with the $5 note in 1992. The new notes were stronger, harder to copy, and lasted longer than traditional paper notes. By 1996, paper notes were fully replaced by the new polymer notes.
Today, all Australian notes are made from polymer and feature important Australians and special Australian designs. Each denomination is distinctly different in size, colour, and the images depicted, making it very hard to mix up the notes. For example, it is easy to distinguish the larger yellow $50 note from the smaller purple $5 note.
The worn and damaged polymer notes are shredded into small pieces, melted, and reformed into plastic beads, which can then be used to make other plastic products.
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Notes are designed with security in mind
The process of creating the notes 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. The intaglio print, a traditional process used for many years worldwide, is applied to both sides of the note, giving it texture and body. This helps people authenticate the note by feeling the difference between a note with or without intaglio.
The Reserve Bank also incorporates microprinting and a rolling colour effect for further security. The microprinting is done in very fine detailed print, giving the notes bold, vivid colours. The rolling colour effect is achieved by applying a thick layer of coloured ink across some of the coloured areas and the window.
The new $5 note, issued on 1 September 2016, includes a tactile feature to help the visually impaired community tell the value of the note.
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They are durable and hard to replicate
Australian banknotes are made of polymer, a substance that makes them highly durable and difficult to replicate. This material was first used in 1988, and all current Australian notes are now made of it. The country was the first in the world to adopt polymer notes, and they have since been recognised as some of the most advanced in the world.
The polymer plastic used in Australian notes is strong, lasting longer than paper notes, and is harder to copy. The notes are made from a plastic film, which is essentially polypropylene that is melted, stretched, blown into a bubble, and then squashed back down to form a film. This film is then printed on both sides with strong, vivid colours, using a very fine detailed print that includes microprint as a security feature.
The intaglio print, applied to both sides of the note, gives texture and body, which helps people authenticate the note. The printing process also includes a rolling colour effect, where a thick layer of coloured ink is applied across some areas of the note. Another security feature is the transparent "window" with a diffractive optically variable device (DOVD) image, which was first introduced on the $10 note in 1988.
The durability of the notes is further demonstrated by the process of recycling worn and damaged notes. These notes are shredded into small pieces, melted, and reformed into plastic beads, which can then be used to make other plastic products.
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Australian notes are made by the Reserve Bank of Australia
The Reserve Bank also changes the individuals depicted on the currency, becoming one of only five other countries in the world that depict a greater number of women than men on their banknotes. The notes retain the key aspects of the previous series' design, such as colour, size, and the people portrayed for ease of recognition and to minimise disruption to businesses.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has also been at the forefront of introducing polymer banknotes, with the first polymer note being issued in 1988 to commemorate the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. Polymer notes are stronger, harder to copy, and last longer than paper notes. The Reserve Bank saw the potential in the issue of plastic notes and commenced preparations for an entirely new series made from polymer, commencing with the $5 note in 1992.
The process of making Australian notes 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. Strong colours are then applied on both sides of the note, done in very fine detailed print, giving it bold, vivid colours. The next process is the rolling colour effect, where a thick layer of coloured ink is applied. One of the last printing processes is to apply an overcoat over the entire note.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian dollar notes are made of polymer plastic, making them highly durable and difficult to replicate.
The Reserve Bank of Australia first issued polymer notes in 1988, to commemorate the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. However, it wasn't until 1996 that paper notes were fully replaced.
Polymer notes are stronger, harder to copy, and last longer than paper notes. They also have advanced security features, such as microprinting and holograms.
The process starts with a plastic film, typically polypropylene, which is melted, stretched, blown into a bubble, and then squashed back down to form a film. This film is then printed with intaglio, giving the note texture and body. Strong colours are applied to both sides, along with microprinting and other security features. Finally, an overcoat is applied to the entire note.
No, Australian dollar notes come in different denominations, and each denomination has a distinct design with varying sizes, colours, and images. This makes it easier to distinguish between notes, especially for the visually impaired.
