 |
| Australia 5 Pounds banknote |
Commonwealth of Australia 5 Pounds banknote 1960 Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin
Reserve Bank of Australia 1960 -1965 Issue
Last Australian Five Pound Predecimal Banknote 1953-1965
Obverse: Portrait of Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin (1786–1847), British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. Franklin also served as Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania from 1837 to 1843. He was influential in establishing an education system and founding the Tasmanian Natural History Society, the first scientific Royal Society established outside Britain. In his last expedition, he disappeared while attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. The entire crew perished from starvation, hypothermia, tuberculosis, lead poisoning and scurvy, and the expedition's icebound ships were abandoned in desperation.
In the top left corner is the Coat of arms of Australia. The coat of arms surrounded by Hakea leaves (also along left side vertically). Denominations in words are big centered and in lower part of banknote. The nominal value £5 in each corner of the banknote.
Signatories: H. C. Coombs, Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia & Roland Wilson, Secretary to the Treasury.
Reverse: Mix of agricultural and pastoral industries of Australia surrounding a central motif of Aboriginal artefacts. Centered are Aboriginal artifacts: two combat shields and boomerang. Typically, beautifully painted shield, greater than one meter long, had a beeswax at the top left, which has been used to fill in and repair gashes in the wood from battle scars. Around are the presentations of main industries of Australia - Livestock (bull and cow), pastoral ("Australian merino") and, as symbol of fertility, there are many fruits, such as: pears, apples, oranges, pineapple, bananas, grapes, lemons. Top, in center, is Australian wheat "Federation". Behind lower denominations, on background, are sea shells and pearls, symbolizing wealth of Australia. Denominations in numerals are in all corners.
Watermark: Portrait of Captain James Cook in center oval.
Size: 167 mm × 78 mm.
Printer: Note printing works at Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Melbourne (1924 - 1981).
Designed by the Note Printing Branch of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (which was Australia's note-issuing authority in 1953), with assistance from the artist Napier Waller and the sculptor Leslie Bowles.
Australian banknotes - Australia paper money
Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 1953-1960 Issue
Reserve Bank of Australia, 1961-1965 Issue
10 Shillings One Pound 5 Pounds 10 Pounds