Australasia & Oceania

Australia 10 dollars Blue P-New Printed on polymer plastic Banjo Paterson/ Mary Gilmore Unc

In 1988, Australia celebrated its Bicentenary. It was 200 years since permanent settlement began with the arrival of Captain Arthur Philip with 11 ships in the First Fleet in 1788. To mark this important event, Australia issued a special 10 dollar note. It turned out to be very special indeed. It was the first note in the world using the revolutionary polymer plastic developed by the Reserve Bank of Australia. It moved like paper but had all the durability of plastic. (P49) The front of the note depicts the arrival of the First Fleet and the varied immigrant population which has settled in the intervening 200 years. The back honours Australia’s indigenous population, the Aboriginal people who it is believed settled in Australia over 40,000 years ago. A wonderful note issued over 30 years ago, in official descriptive folder.

Australia 1 dollar nd P42d Brown and yellow Bareheaded Queen Eliz II at r and arms at centre/ Aboriginal art Unc

Chatham Islands 1 Koha Fantasy issue printed on polymer plastic Pink, yellow and blue. Weka birds/ Lobster and Kaingaroa Wharf. Unc

The Cook Islands has just issued a new 3 dollar note in polymer to celebrate the 56th Anniversary of Constitution Day 1965-2021(P-New) The front follows the design of the first paper 3 dollars, discontinued some years ago with a vignette of the legend of Ina riding the shark holding a coconut. The back features a pukapuka fishing canoe at the centre and a view of the Te-Rongo statue to the right. Uncirculated.

The Pacific Arts Festival is a travelling festival, held every 4 years in the same year as the Summer Olympics by different countries in Oceania. It traditionally celebrates song and dance, In 1992, the 6th Festival was held in R--arotonga in the Cook Islands. This 3 dollar note was overprinted commemorating the occasion. (P6) The front design references the legend of Ina and the Shark while on the back we find an outrigger canoe and carved figure. Uncirculated.

Cook Islands 3 dollars nd (1972) P7 Pink Drummers, dancers and fish/Churchgoers returning from church Unc

A beautifully designed note.

Fiji 5 dollars nd P115 Green Printed on polymer plastic The first issue without Queen's portrait Bird on branch/iguana and flowers Unc

This is one helluva set! It’s a Fantasy issue from a fantasy island of Kamberra in Polynesia! More to the point the polymer notes in this set of 12 notes are very colourful and beautifully illustrated. Each of the 12 notes in the set features a different sign of the Chinese Zodiac represented by the animal signs of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit,Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster. Dog and Pig. The Zodiac plays an essential role in Chinese culture and is believed to influence people’s personalities, career, compatibility and fortune. A wonderful set -12 different polymer fantasy notes with the complete Chinese Zodiac. Uncirculated and very limited availability£49.50

New Hebrides 100 francs P18b Brown, pink and blue Carved wooden sculpture at l, view of the port at centre and girl playing a guitar next to hibiscuses at r/ Girl at l, coastal view at centre Unc

The new plastic 5 dollars issued by New Zealand recently won the International Banknote Society Banknote of the Year (P191). It certainly is a handsome note. It features Sir Edmund Hillary, acknowledged as the first person to climb Mount Everest. Alongside his portrait is a view of Mount Cook, his favourite mountain. A Holho penguin is on the back. Uncirculated award-winning note.

Issued by The Reserve Bank of New Zealand between 1989 and 1992.

#Papua New Guinea 10 kina nd (2008) P30 Printed on plastic Parliament building/Bowl and bracelet Unc

We offer Crisp Uncirculated examples of the Papua New Guinea 10 kina first issued in 1988 (P9a)At this time, Papua was still printing its notes on paper. The front has a distinctive bird of paradise perched on a decorated drum. On the back are important artefacts. This variety currently catalogues $85 but it can be yours in Crisp Uncirculated for a better price...

Papua New Guinea 100 kina P37 Green and peach Parliament building/ Container ship, plane and lorry Hybrid with plastic see through panel. Unc

Papua New Guinea 5 kina (2009) P29 Mauve Printed on polymer plastic Parliament building/ Carved mask and artefacts Unc

The last of this denomination to be printed on paper.

Solomon Islands 2 dollars P18 Green Arms at r/ Traditional spear fishing Unc

Solomon Islands 10 dollars P15 Pink Arms at r/ Woman and musical instrument Unc

Solomon Islands 2 dollars P23 Green printed on polymer plastic Crest/Traditional spear fishing Unc

Solomon Islands 2 dollars nd P25 Green Arms with crocodile and shark/ Traditional spearfishing Unc

The Solomon Islands issued a new polymer plastic note last year. It was issued to commemorate 40 years of independence.(P-New) The front is printed in vertical format and depicts a man blowing a conch shell The back in a more familiar horizontal format shows a turtle, a diver, and a family in a canoe near the seashore. Uncirculated.