Australian one-hundred-dollar note
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2013) |
| (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Value | 100 Australian dollars |
| Width | 158 mm |
| Height | 65 mm |
| Security features | Clear Window with Embossing, Micro Printing, Slightly Raised Printing, Hold the note towards light and the Australian Coat Of Arms plus a seven pointed star will appear, Ultra Violet, Unic Serial Number and different fonts, Watermark |
| Material used | Polymer |
| Years of printing | 1996, 1998–99, 2008, 2010–11, 2013-14[1] |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | Dame Nellie Melba |
| Designer | Bruce Stewart |
| Design date | 1996 |
| Reverse | |
| File:Australian $100 polymer back.jpg | |
| Design | Sir John Monash |
| Designer | Bruce Stewart |
| Design date | 1996 |
The Australian one hundred dollar banknote was first issued, as a paper note, in 1984.[2] There have been only two different issues of this denomination: initially a greyish blue paper note, and from May 1996, a green polymer note.[3]
According to Reserve Bank of Australia statistics, the number of $100 banknotes in circulation in June 2005 was 149 million, or 18.5% of all notes in circulation. The cash value for these notes was $14,924 million, or 41.9% of the total value for all denominations. Only the $50 note had more cash value in circulation. Updated figures to June 2008 were 176.9 million, or 19%, and $17,690,000,000, or 42.1%. Again, the value of cash in circulation is more for the $50 note.[4] This can be explained by the fact that most automated teller machines dispense $20 and $50 notes, but not $100 notes.
As of June 2015[update], 300 million $100 notes were in circulation, 22% of the total notes in circulation; worth $29,951 million, or 46% of the total value for all denominations.[5]
Since the start of issuance there have been six signature combinations. Two other combinations were not issued.[citation needed]
Since 1973, the main title identifying the country on banknotes has been "Australia". The denominations issued prior to 1973 used "Commonwealth of Australia".[citation needed]
Design
The paper issue has a portrait of Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, with a background of a mountain range with a geological strata format. A large diamond shape appears to the left of the main picture. Astronomer John Tebbutt is on the reverse, with a background of the observatory he built and a local church.[6]
The polymer issue was designed by Bruce Stewart, and features portraits of soprano Dame Nellie Melba and engineer and First World War general Sir John Monash.[3]
Security features
The paper design includes a watermark of Captain James Cook in the white field, and a metallic strip embedded in the paper to the left (on the obverse side) of the note. The same watermark was used in the last issue of the pre-decimal banknotes.[citation needed]
The polymer issue includes a shadow image of the Australian Coat of Arms, which is printed over. In the clear window, there is embossing—or a raised image—of the number 100 and a print of a lyrebird. Also for this issue, fluorescent colouring was added to the serial numbers, as well as a patch that shows the banknote's value under ultraviolet light. The star's four points on the obverse and three on the reverse join to form the seven-pointed Federation Star when the note is held up to the light. Raised print and micro-printing of the denomination value are also included.[7][8]
References
- ^ "SERIAL NUMBER INFORMATION". banknotes.rba.gov.au. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Retrieved 9 February 2015.
- ^ "OTHER BANKNOTES-PAPER SERIES-$100". banknotes.rba.gov.au. Reserve Bank of Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
- ^ a b "A Complete Series of Polymer Banknotes: 1992-1996". Reserve Bank of Australia Museum. Reserve Bank of Australia. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
- ^ Notes on Issue, www.rba.gov.au, Data updated to end June 2008, Reserve Bank of Australia. Retrieved on 4 August 2015.
- ^ "DISTRIBUTION-CIRCULATION AND PRODUCTION STATISTICS, AS AT END JUNE 2015". banknotes.rba.gov.au. Reserve Bank of Australia. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
- ^ "Inflation and the Note Issue". Reserve Bank of Australia Museum. Reserve Bank of Australia. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
- ^ "List of Security Features". Counterfeit Detection. Reserve Bank of Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
- ^ http://banknotes.rba.gov.au/banknote-features
Further reading
- Ian W. Pitt, ed. (2000). Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values (19th ed.). Chippendale, NSW: Renniks Publications. pp. 171–172. ISBN 0-9585574-4-6.