10 shillings= 1/2 pounds 1961
Market Prices
36 salesAbout This Note
An exceptional example of Australia's transitional 10 Shillings banknote issued by the Reserve Bank of Australia in 1961, graded UNC. This note features a striking portrait of explorer Matthew Flinders on the obverse and Old Parliament House in Canberra on the reverse, both rendered in classic engraved style with dominant tan, orange, and black coloring. The crisp, unmarked condition with intact margins and clean surfaces makes this a desirable piece of Australian currency history, particularly valuable as it represents the final decade before decimalization in 1966.
Common. While the eBay sales data shows considerable price variation ($5–$237.50), this reflects condition-dependent pricing rather than rarity. Multiple UNC examples sold in the $50–$128 range during 2009–2013, indicating steady market availability. The note had a substantial print run across its 1961–1965 issuance period, and numerous examples remain in circulation or private collections. The denomination and timeframe ensure broad survival rates.
This 1961 Reserve Bank issue marks the transition from Commonwealth Bank currency to Reserve Bank control and represents Australia's last shilling-denominated banknotes before the shift to decimal currency in 1966. The choice of Matthew Flinders, the renowned maritime explorer who circumnavigated Australia, and the prominence of Old Parliament House reflects mid-twentieth-century Australian identity and governance. The note's legal tender declaration 'in all territories under the control of the Commonwealth' underscores Australia's federal structure during this era of post-war economic development.
The obverse features an expertly engraved portrait of Captain Matthew Flinders (1774-1814), the British Royal Navy officer and hydrographer, positioned on the right in formal 19th-century military dress with high collar and decorated uniform. The left side displays the Australian coat of arms with shield and supporting kangaroo and emu. Ornate heraldic flourishes and decorative scrollwork frame both sides. The reverse showcases Old Parliament House in Canberra, the seat of the Commonwealth Parliament from 1927 to 1988, rendered with classical architectural detail including symmetrical facade, arched windows, and columned sections. The denomination is prominently marked as '10' with corner numerals showing '2' and '1/2' fractions throughout.
FRONT: 'AUSTRALIAN NOTE' / 'COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA' / 'LEGAL TENDER' / 'TEN SHILLINGS' / 'IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND IN ALL TERRITORIES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COMMONWEALTH' / Serial number 'AG 98 266626' / 'A.G. Coombs' (Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia) / 'Roland Wilson' (Secretary to the Treasury) / 'MATTHEW FLINDERS'. BACK: 'COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA' / '10' / 'HALF SHILLINGS' [Note: Back inscription reference appears textually inconsistent; the note is denominated as 10 Shillings = 1/2 Pound].
Intaglio engraving (line engraving) executed on high-quality banknote paper. The visual analysis reveals intricate crosshatch patterns, fine line work throughout, and complex geometric patterns characteristic of professional security printing. The note was produced by the Note Printing Branch of the Reserve Bank of Australia, utilizing multi-plate intaglio processes to create the layered color effects in black, tan, and orange.
This note is catalogued as P-33a (Pick variant) with watermark Captain James Cook. The observed signatures are A.G. Coombs (Governor) and Roland Wilson (Secretary to the Treasury), consistent with the 1961 issue period. Serial number prefix 'AG 98' confirms the 1961 dating. No overprints or unusual variants are evident in the visual analysis. PMG population reports indicate only one variant (P-33a) has been formally catalogued for this Pick number.
