AUSTRALIA’S most widely circulated banknote has received a makeover, with the Reserve Bank of Australia releasing the new $50 note into general circulation today.
The new note has several features to deter counterfeiting, including a top-to-bottom clear window that contains a reversing number and flying bird, as well as microprint and a patch with a rolling colour effect.
It also features four raised bumps on each side to help vision impaired people distinguish between other denominations.
The new note maintains the basic features of the previous series, including portraits of Aboriginal writer and inventor, David Unaipon, and Australia's first female member of parliament, Edith Cowan.
Both were campaigners for social change and several design elements of the banknote acknowledge their work.
The microprint includes excerpts of Unaipon's book, Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines, and Cowan's first speech to the Western Australian Parliament.
The new note follows the release of the $5 and $10 over the past two years.
The new $20 is expected to be issued in 2019 and the new $100 in 2020.
The new banknotes will take some time to enter wide circulation and while the previous series of banknotes will be progressively withdrawn from circulation, they will retain their legal tender status.
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