Front Description:
Genuine uncut vertical pair of Australian Twenty Dollar paper banknotes, issued by the Reserve Bank of Australia and released at the Numismatic Association of Australia’s International Coin and Banknote Fair in Melbourne, 17–18 July 1993, housed in the matching Note Printing Australia presentation folder.
Each note is printed in orange, red and yellow with fine engine-turned security underprint, with wide white selvedge at the left edge, full uncut sheet margins and the printer’s colour registration dots retained along the bottom margin.
The face of each note carries “AUSTRALIA” across the top and the numeral “20” in bold outlined figures at the upper left and upper right, with “TWENTY DOLLARS” running vertically in the left selvedge panel.
The right-hand portrait is of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the pioneering Australian aviator, shown in a suit and patterned tie, his surname “KINGSFORD SMITH” engraved beside the portrait. To the left of the portrait is a composition of stylised bird or wing forms rendered in fine guilloche line engraving, suggesting flight.
Beneath are the two engraved signatures, captioned “GOVERNOR, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA” (B. W. Fraser) at left and “SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY” (A. S. Cole) at right. Below is the legal tender text: “THIS AUSTRALIAN NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA AND ITS TERRITORIES.”
The serial numbers appear at lower left and lower right of each note: the upper note reads “A 000074” and the lower note reads “B 000074” — consecutive prefixes with matching low numbers, as produced on an uncut sheet. The very low serial number 000074 is a desirable feature.
Condition (technical): uncirculated, approximately UNC grade. Crisp, bright paper with full original colour, no folds, no handling marks, and full uncut margins intact.
Back Description:
Printed in matching orange, red and yellow. Each note carries “AUSTRALIA” across the top with the numeral “20” at the upper left and at the right.
The portrait at left is of Lawrence Hargrave, the Australian aeronautical pioneer, shown bearded and balding in a suit and tie, his surname “HARGRAVE” engraved beneath. To the right of the portrait is a detailed engraved composition of Hargrave’s box-kite and experimental flying machine designs, shown as skeletal wire-frame structures with fabric panels, set against swirling airflow lines rendered in fine stipple and line work.
The accompanying Note Printing Australia folder is printed in orange and features the Kingsford Smith portrait at right, a large “20” numeral, “TWENTY DOLLARS” running vertically, and an engraved image of the Southern Cross aircraft registered “VH-USU” at left with its propeller and undercarriage visible. The Note Printing Australia logo appears at the upper right, with “VERTICAL PAIR” printed to its left. At the lower centre is the text: “ISSUED AT THE NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL COIN AND BANKNOTE FAIR, MELBOURNE, 17-18 JULY 1993.”
Estimated Era:
Confirmed as issued 17–18 July 1993 at the Numismatic Association of Australia’s International Coin and Banknote Fair in Melbourne. The notes are from the final Australian paper twenty dollar series (the Kingsford Smith/Hargrave design, in issue from 1966 to 1994), bearing the Fraser/Cole signature combination. Australia replaced the paper $20 note with a polymer issue in 1994, making these uncut pairs among the last paper $20 products released, and the 1993 date places this issue at the very end of Australia’s paper currency era. The low serial number 000074 adds further collector appeal.
Note: Coins & Banknotes Grading
- Please
closely inspect the photos to understand the condition of the coins or
banknotes before proceeding with your purchase, as grading can be
subjective and varies from person to person. - Please do not place too much hope on grading companies to grade the notes accurately, as they can be notoriously inconsistent.
- Different graders have different opinions, eye factors, and knowledge that influence the final grading.
- Even grading companies do not guarantee that you will get the outcome of your desired grading.
- If
you have any questions or require additional information, I am more
than happy to assist. Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Shipping Information
- Combined Shipping:
We offer combined shipping for all banknotes. To take advantage of this
offer, please add the items to your cart together and only proceed to
checkout once you are ready to pay. The combined shipping is calculated
at the checkout page. Please do not pay for items individually, as the
shipping costs will not be combined that way. - Customs, Duty, Tariff Fees: Buyers are responsible for any applicable customs, duty or tariff fees.
- International Shipping:
Shipping duration can vary, typically ranging from 14 to 60 business
days for standard delivery. Please be aware that these shipping times
are estimates and depend on the operational efficiencies of the shipping
companies, which we cannot control. - Postage Costs:
Please note that international shipping via Australia Post is not
cheap. We strive to keep the shipping costs as low as possible,
sometimes even absorbing a portion of the costs. All orders are sent
with end-to-end tracking for safety and reliability. - Untracked Shipping Requests:
If a buyer insists on requesting an untracked, cheaper shipping option,
we reserve the right to grant or refuse the request. If untracked
shipping is granted, please be aware that we have no way of tracking the
mail, and the buyer is strictly responsible for any losses in transit. - Tracking and Logistics:
Please check Australia Post for tracking status. Since we do not own
Australia Post, we have absolutely no control over their handling times
and methods. Australia is a huge continent, and logistics are
challenging, coupled with one of the highest minimum wages in the world,
making costs and operations tough. Please check with your postal
service or local post offices if any unattended mail notes are left, as
we absolutely can’t control that remotely.
Customer Conduct
- Please be respectful when communicating with us. We do not tolerate abusive behaviour from buyers.
- If you do not agree with the postage cost or any other terms, please refrain from making a purchase.
