Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report – 1961 Note Issue Department

Notes in circulation at 30th June, 1961, totalled £416 million, representing a net decrease over the year of £3 million, in contrast to the unusually large increase of £27 million during the previous year. The levelling out of circulation in the current year reflected a reduced public demand for additional notes for transaction and liquidity requirements.

The movement in note circulation in recent years is shown by the following figures.

Notes in Circulation
(£ million)
End of
June
Total
Circulation
10/- Denominations £10
and
Over
£1 £5
1955 363 10 68 178 107
1956 372 10 75 162 125
1957 381 11 69 169 132
1958 385 11 68 171 135
1959 392 11 68 175 138
1960 419 12 69 189 149
1961 416 12 68 186 150

Notes and Stamp Printing

As well as meeting Australia's note requirements, the Bank through its Note Printing Branch undertakes other security printing, mainly on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. The extent of the Branch's activities is illustrated by the following table which sets out a number of the major items of security printing produced in recent years.

Millions of pieces 1956/57 1957/58 1958/59 1959/60 1960/61
Australian notes 143 141 156 160 179
Postage stamps 1,147 1,109 1,039 1,193 998
Postal notes 20 19 18 16 16
Cheques 65 60 62 78 68
Other postal material 41 44 45 41 40