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.

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

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

A trio of Uncirculated notes issued by Indonesia in 2106. Included are the 2000, 5000 and 10,000 rupiah denominations. This striking group features portraits of important citizens on the front with traditional dancers on the backs. Crisp Uncirculated.

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

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

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.

In 2019, Western Samoa was host to the 16th Pacific Games. To mark the event a special 10 tala note was issued in polymer . The front has the Games logo and athletes competing in various sports such as weightlifting and rugby. On the back children are shown doing the same sports with makeshift equipment such as coconuts. Uncirculated.

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

Timor 20 escudos 1967 P26 Green. Dom Aleixo at r in plumed hat/Arms Some staining otherwise GEF/Unc

Tonga ½ pa'anga P18c Dark brown and pale pink Portrait of King Taufa'ahau at r, coat of arms at lower l/Brown and blue Coconut workers at l Unc

Vanuatu 200 vatu P14 printed on polymer plastic I Pink Melanesian man standing/Seated family group Unc

Vanuatu has completed the transition from issuing its banknotes in paper and now uses polymer plastic. We offer here Uncirculated examples of the plastic 500 vatu issued in 2017 (P-New). The mauve polymer plastic 500 vatu is mauve and slightly reduced in size over the paper version. The same Melanesian man in on the front and a group of dancing boys on the back while another draws in the sand. Limited availability.