Catalog
5 Pounds
| Issuer | Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
|---|---|
| Year | ND (1927-1932) |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN NOTE FIVE POUNDS The Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia promises to pay the bearer on demand the sum of Five Pounds at the Head Office of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia |
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| Protection description | the Commonwealth of Australia pattern in the paper. |
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| Comments |
The Commonwealth Bank's Note Printing Branch at Flinders Street, Melbourne had only been producing Australian currency since 1920, ending the long dependence on Thomas De La Rue in London. This 5 Pound note falls within an early period of that domestic production, when the Branch was still establishing consistent quality control — and it shows in surviving examples, which can exhibit notable variation in ink density and registration across the signature varieties.
Three signature combinations exist under the P#17 umbrella, reflecting genuine staff turnover at the Bank's senior levels rather than any policy shift. Riddle succeeded Kell as Governor mid-series; Sheehan replaced Heathershaw as Deputy Governor. The P#17c pairing of Riddle and Sheehan is generally the scarcer combination in higher grades.