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CURRENCY NOTE COLLECTING
Currency notes are a popular collectable and offer an interesting perspective on Australia’s culture, history and values.
Many collectors aim to build a collection of notes based on serial numbers or signature combinations. Recent Australian notes include the year of manufacture in the note's serial number, enabling collectors to acquire notes based on the year they are produced. There is also a growing interest in collecting polymer notes from the increasing number of countries that issue them.
The following information is provided for those interested in collecting Australian notes.
Numismatic Banknote Arrangements
In 2007, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced that previous direct sale arrangements for first and last prefix banknotes had ceased, and would be replaced by an annual auction. Following a tender process, the RBA appointed Downies to conduct auctions in 2007 and 2008, and to sell uncirculated banknotes.
Downies will conduct two auctions:
- A public auction on 11 July 2008; and
- An internet auction from 18 June 2008 to 25 July 2008.
Downies will accept bids for both auctions in person at the public auction or by telephone, fax, email and post (bids must be confirmed in writing). Downies will also offer standard uncirculated banknotes from 1 June 2008 to 31 July 2008. Each uncirculated banknote will be sold at face value, plus postage, handling and insurance charges.
Details of the auction process, purchasing arrangements and any related charges are available from Downies:
For public auction enquiries:
| Phone: | +61 3 8677 8800 |
Fax: |
+61 3 8677 8899 |
E-mail: |
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Website: |
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Street Address: |
Downies Australian Coin Auctions Lower Ground Floor Block Arcade 98–100 Elizabeth Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000 |
| Postal Address: | GPO Box 2588 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 |
For internet auction enquiries:
| Phone: | +61 3 8456 8416 (Marcus Loricchiella) |
Fax: |
+61 3 8677 8401 |
E-mail: |
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Website: |
For enquiries about standard uncirculated banknotes:
| Phone: | +61 3 8456 8456 |
Fax: |
+61 3 8456 8401 |
E-mail: |
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Website: |
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Postal Address: |
PO Box 888 ABBOTSFORD VIC 3067 |
Standard uncirculated banknotes can also be purchased by visiting the following RBA locations:
| Location | Street Address | Hours of Business |
| Head Office | ||
| Sydney |
65 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 Map of Head Office |
Monday to Thursday between 9.30 am and 4.00 pm AEST and Friday between 9.30 am and 5.00 pm AEST. |
| Branch | ||
| Australian Capital Territory | 20-22 London Circuit CANBERRA ACT 2600 Map of Canberra Branch |
Monday to Thursday between 9.30 am and 4.00 pm AEST and Friday between 9.30 am and 5.00 pm AEST. |
Valuation of Notes
The RBA redeems all previous issues of genuine Australian currency notes at face value only. Most commercial banks will also redeem old Australian notes at face value but there could be some reluctance if bank tellers are unfamiliar with the designs.
The RBA does not provide opinions concerning the market value of old, rare or misprinted notes. If you wish to have notes appraised, it is recommended that you contact a number of note and coin dealers. Without endorsing any particular organisation, there are a number of Australian note and coin dealers that are members of the Australasian Numismatic Dealers' Association (ANDA). For more details, please visit the ANDA website.
Note Serial Number Information
Click on a year to view circulating note prefix and serial number information.
- 2007
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- 2006
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- 2005
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- 2004
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- 2003
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- 2002
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- 2001
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- 1999
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- 1998
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- 1997
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- 1996
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- 1995
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- 1994
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- 1993
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- 1992
The above note prefix and serial number information does not include details of numismatic products sold by Note Printing Australia between 1988 and 2001, including the 1988 Commemorative $10 note.
