Damon Mcknight
Australian banknotes are made from a plastic polymer, specifically polypropylene polymer. This makes them waterproof, highly durable, difficult to replicate, and easily recyclable. The Reserve Bank of Australia introduced the first polymer banknote in 1988, making Australia the first country to produce polymer banknotes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | Polymer, specifically polypropylene polymer |
| Durability | High |
| Recyclability | Recyclable |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Counterfeit-proof | Difficult to replicate, security features |
| Production | Melted plastic pellets blown into bubbles, pressed into sheets, printed, cut, and stored |
| Denominations | $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 |
| Design | Different colours, sizes, and portraits of important Australians |
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What You'll Learn
Australian banknotes are made from plastic pellets
The process of making Australian banknotes from plastic pellets begins with melting the pellets down. Then, the molten plastic is blown up into a huge bubble, and the walls of this bubble are pressed together and run through a roller, forming a long thin roll of clear plastic film. After cooling, the film is cut into sheets and printed with a white ink, which helps other ink stick to the plastic. This is also when the clear window in the banknote is formed. The sheets are then run through a press that prints on both sides simultaneously.
The plastic polymer banknotes were first issued in 1988, commemorating the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. Australia was the first country to produce polymer banknotes, and they have since become known for their toughness and durability. The polymer notes are also cleaner than paper notes and more difficult to replicate.
The plastic pellets used to make Australian banknotes can also be sourced from worn and damaged banknotes, which are shredded into small pieces, melted, and reformed into plastic beads. These beads can then be used to make new banknotes or other plastic products.
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The Reserve Bank of Australia issues the notes
In 1988, the Reserve Bank of Australia issued $10 notes in plastic. The polypropylene polymer banknotes were produced by Note Printing Australia, to commemorate the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. These notes contained 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 features.
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. In April 1995, the design of the $5 notes was updated to match the rest of the New Banknote Series, with additional slight changes in 1996. In 2001, a special commemorative $5 note was produced, but in 2002, the previous version's production commenced again. From 2002, 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.
The new $5 note includes the tactile feature and was issued on 1 September 2016, to coincide with Australia's National Wattle Day, followed by the new $10 banknote on 20 September 2017. The new $50 note was released for circulation on 18 October 2018, followed by the new $20 note on 9 October 2019, and the new $100 was released on 29 October 2020.
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Notes are printed by Note Printing Australia
The Australian dollar is made of a plastic polymer, which makes it highly durable and difficult to replicate. The notes are printed by Note Printing Australia Limited (NPA), a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, located on a 26-hectare site in Craigieburn, Victoria.
The process of printing these notes is quite fascinating. It starts with plastic pellets, which are melted down and then blown into a huge bubble. This bubble is then collapsed to form a long thin roll of clear plastic film, which is cooled and cut into sheets. The sheets are printed with a white ink to help other colours adhere, and this is when the clear window in the banknote is formed. These sheets are then printed on both sides simultaneously, guillotined into individual notes, and inspected for quality. Finally, the finished notes are shrink-wrapped, packed, and stored before distribution.
The NPA site is highly secure, with features such as high-security perimeter fencing and an armed guard force protecting it around the clock. The process of making the notes, from pellets to pallets, ensures the security and durability of Australia's distinctive banknotes.
The use of polymer in Australian banknotes started in 1988 with the introduction of the first polymer $10 note, produced by Note Printing Australia, to commemorate the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. These notes featured a transparent "window" with a diffractive optically variable device (DOVD) image of Captain James Cook, enhancing security.
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Australian dollars are waterproof
Australian banknotes are made from a plastic polymer, which makes them waterproof. This material is also used for other types of paper currency around the world, but Australia was the first country to produce polymer banknotes. The Reserve Bank of Australia introduced the first polymer banknote in 1988, a $10 note commemorating the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia.
The polymer banknotes are made from polypropylene polymer, which is a type of plastic. They are produced by Note Printing Australia, which is located on a 26-hectare site in Craigieburn, Victoria. The process of creating these banknotes begins with melting down plastic pellets and blowing up a huge plastic bubble. This bubble is then flattened and cut into sheets, which are printed with a white ink to help the other ink stick to the plastic. The clear window in the banknote is also formed at this stage.
The sheets are then printed on both sides simultaneously with the final design. After this, they are guillotined into individual notes, inspected for quality, and shrink-wrapped before being distributed around the country. This production process results in banknotes that are waterproof, highly durable, and difficult to replicate.
In addition to their waterproof and durable qualities, Australian polymer banknotes are also easily recyclable. Worn and damaged notes are shredded, melted, and reformed into plastic beads, which can then be used to create new plastic products. This recyclability is another advantage of Australia's polymer banknotes over traditional paper currency.
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Australian coins are made from metals
In addition to coins, Australian dollars also exist in the form of banknotes, which are made from a type of plastic polymer. This makes the banknotes tough, durable, waterproof, and harder to copy. The use of polymer also means that the banknotes are easily recyclable and cleaner than paper notes. The first polymer banknote was issued in 1988 as a $10 note commemorating the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. Australia was the first country to produce polymer banknotes.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian banknotes are made from a type of plastic, or more specifically, polypropylene polymer.
Australian banknotes are made of plastic because it makes them tough, durable, and harder to replicate. They are also recyclable and waterproof.
The first polymer banknote was issued in 1988 as a $10 note commemorating the bicentenary of European settlement in Australia.
Australian coins are made from metals such as copper, aluminium, and nickel.
Polymer banknotes are cleaner than paper notes, more durable, and easily recyclable.
