Catalog
100 Pounds - George V
| Issuer | Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1934 |
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| Composition | Cotton paper |
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|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | ₤100 ₤100 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CANCELLED CANCELLES This Note is legal tender for ONE HUNDRED POUNDS in the Commonwealth and in all Territories under the control of the Commonwealth 100 ONE HUNDRED POUNDS 100 |
| Reverse description | Printed in brown, the reverse is centered on a rectangular intaglio vignette framed by an elaborate guilloche border, depicting an allegorical agricultural scene with figures and livestock in relief. The denomination numeral "100" appears vertically in guilloche panels to the left and right of the central vignette, with the value expressed in words and numerals at the upper corners and side panels. |
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| Comments |
The Commonwealth Bank's high-denomination notes of the 1930s were never intended for everyday commerce — the £100 note circulated almost exclusively between banks, businesses, and government accounts. At the time, £100 represented roughly three months' wages for an average Australian worker, which made retail use essentially theoretical.
T. S. Harrison's operation in Melbourne had been producing Australian notes since 1913, ending the country's earlier dependence on overseas printers. The P#24B is distinguished from the earlier 24A by the signature combination — a detail that matters considerably to series collectors, since signature pairs on Commonwealth Bank notes of this period directly reflect specific periods of institutional leadership and are the primary basis for variety classification.