Regula Chronicles: 20 Australian dollars, 2019

The February issue of #RegulaChronicles is about a polymer banknote – 20 Australian dollars. The banknote came into circulation in October 2019.

Australia presented its first plastic banknote in 1988. And in 1996 it became the first country in the world to issue a whole series of such banknotes. Plastic banknotes are more durable and secure than paper ones.

As it was said by Governor Philip Lowe, “This is a fantastic new banknote, with world-leading security technology and iconic imagery.”

The front side of the banknote shows a portrait of Mary Reibey. At the age of 13, she was convicted of stealing a horse and then transported from England to Australia. After gaining her freedom, she became a successful businesswoman running her shipping and trading enterprises.

To the right of the Reibey’s portrait is an image of a Port Jackson schooner and microprinting with the names of ships that belonged to Mary Reibey. A top-to-bottom transparent window depicts dynamic images including a compass and a bird - the laughing kookaburra. One more image of this Australian bird on the branch of Acacia buxifolia becomes visible when the banknote is exposed to UV light.

The reverse side of the banknote features Reverend John Flynn, “the flying doctor” who founded the world's first air ambulance currently known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). The Flynn’s portrait is located between the illustrations of an aircraft and a pedal-powered transceiver. The latter was used by RFDS to improve communication in remote areas. This side of the banknote is also secured by microprinting that uncovers excerpts from Flynn's book “The Bushman's Companion”.
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Images of the banknote used in the video are taken from the Information Reference System (IRS) “Secure Documents Ultimate”. It contains detailed descriptions of security features in documents and banknotes as well as their images captured in white, IR and UV light.

The IRS “Secure Documents Ultimate” provides you with information about documents and banknotes from 212 countries and territories, including 2680 passports, 199 currencies, 174 visas and 909 vehicle-related documents.
https://regulaforensics.com/en/products/information_reference_systems_software/SDU/

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