Australian Five Pounds Banknote Price Guide | Klazzik Numismatics

KLAZZIK NUMISMATICS AUSTRALIAN BANKNOTE PRICE GUIDE

Australian Five Pounds Banknote Price Guide

This guide identifies Australia's Five Pounds banknotes by issue, signatures, reference number, serial-number format and recognised sub-type, with practical collector values by grade.

Values are shown in Australian dollars as general collector guides. Originality, grade, repairs, staining, folds, tears, paper quality, colour, serial-number significance and provenance can all materially affect the value of an individual note.

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1913-1914 ISSUE

R35

1913 Five Pounds - Collins & Allen

The first Commonwealth of Australia Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of Jas R. Collins and Geo T. Allen. It is identified by the U serial prefix and the early plain-back design.

The reverse features a view of the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn, New South Wales. The earliest Five Pounds notes used a comparatively plain, non-mosaic background on the reverse, with faint red and yellow horizontal banding.

Issue Identification

Reference: R35
Issue period: 1913-1914
Signatures: Jas R. Collins / Geo T. Allen
Total printed: possibly 693,442
Serial prefix: U
Subtype: Plain back
Basic colour: Blue, mauve and green
Dimensions: approximately 167 × 105 mm
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Collector note: The supplied reference records only 14 known surviving genuine notes, together with 12 recorded forgeries, one pattern and two trials.
Forgery identification: Known forgeries can show coarse or grainy printing on the reverse and an indistinct Harrison imprint on the obverse. Under magnification, the forged background may show screen dots, while genuine notes show continuous lithographic ink lines.

R35 Collector Values

Reference Serial / subtype detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R35Prefix U - plain back$10,133$13,993$41,495$72,375$109,045$137,995

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1916 ISSUE

R36

1916 Five Pounds - Collins & Allen

The 1916 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of Jas R. Collins and Geo T. Allen. This issue uses the mosaic-pattern reverse introduced after forgeries were discovered in the earlier plain-back issue.

Issue Identification

Reference: R36
Issue year: 1916
Signatures: Jas R. Collins / Geo T. Allen
Reverse type: Mosaic pattern of fives
Basic colour: Dark blue series
Dimensions: approximately 167 × 105 mm
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Serial-number identification: R36 occurs with several recognised serial formats, including black serials, prefix-letter forms and suffix-letter forms. First and last prefix or suffix letters are separately identified where recorded.
Recorded survivors: The supplied reference records 2 surviving R36a notes, 25 surviving R36b notes plus 2 forgeries, and 54 surviving R36c notes.

R36 Collector Values

Reference Serial / prefix detail VGFVFEFaUNCUNC
R36aDark blue serials - prefix letter U - black serials$12,545$25,573$45,838$80,095$115,800$152,470
R36bPrefix letter - no mid-range prefix letters
R36bFFirst prefix letter U$2,509$4,922$9,650$21,713$38,600$65,620
R36bLLast prefix letter V$2,509$4,922$9,457$21,230$37,635$65,620
R36cSuffix letter - no mid-range suffix letters
R36cFFirst suffix letter U$1,930$3,957$8,299$18,335$32,810$54,040
R36cLLast suffix letter V$2,220$4,343$9,168$19,783$36,188$61,760

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1918 ISSUE

R37

1918 Five Pounds - Cerutty & Collins

The 1918 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of J. Cerutty and Jas R. Collins. It continues the mosaic-pattern reverse and is found with both suffix-letter and combined prefix-and-suffix serial formats.

Issue Identification

Reference: R37
Issue year: 1918
Signatures: J. Cerutty / Jas R. Collins
Reverse type: Mosaic pattern of fives
Serial forms: Suffix letter and prefix & suffix letter
Basic colour: Dark blue
Dimensions: approximately 167 × 105 mm
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Serial-number identification: R37a is the suffix-letter V type. R37b covers the combined prefix-and-suffix format, with U-B to U-H forming the mid-range group, U-A identified as the first combination and U-J as the last.
Recorded survivors: The supplied reference records 14 surviving R37a notes.

R37 Collector Values

Reference Prefix / suffix detail VGFVFEFaUNCUNC
R37aSuffix letter V$3,378$6,659$12,063$25,573$47,768$76,235
R37bPrefix & suffix letters U-B to U-H - mid-range$1,062$2,027$4,150$15,440$18,818$34,258
R37bFFirst prefix & suffix U-A$1,158$2,509$4,922$12,545$21,713$37,635
R37bLLast prefix & suffix U-J$1,351$2,799$5,597$13,993$24,125$42,943

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1924 ISSUE

R38

1924 Five Pounds - Kell & Collins

The 1924 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of James Kell and Jas R. Collins. Two recognised signature-colour groups occur within this issue: black signatures and dark-blue signatures.

Issue Identification

Reference: R38
Issue year: 1924
Signatures: James Kell / Jas R. Collins
Recognised subtypes: Black signatures and dark-blue signatures
Black-signature prefixes: Q/0 to Q/5
Dark-blue-signature prefixes: Q/5 to Q/7
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 180 × 78 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Identification note: Signature colour is an important part of identifying the correct R38 subtype. Prefix Q/5 occurs at the changeover and is separately recognised in the value table.

R38 Collector Values

Reference Prefix / subtype detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R38aBlack signatures - mid-range prefixes Q/1 to Q/4$579$1,255$2,895$8,299$12,063$22,678
R38aFBlack signatures - first prefix Q/0$676$1,448$3,378$9,650$15,440$25,573
R38aLBlack signatures - last prefix Q/5$772$1,544$3,667$9,457$17,370$31,363
R38bDark-blue signatures - mid-range prefix Q/6$820$1,834$4,053$9,457$12,545$29,915
R38bFDark-blue signatures - first prefix Q/5$965$2,220$4,729$11,098$21,713$32,810
R38bLDark-blue signatures - last prefix Q/7$1,062$2,413$5,115$13,028$24,608$37,153

Note Issue Department issue, obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1927 NOTE ISSUE DEPARTMENT

R39

1927 Five Pounds - Kell & Heathershaw

The R39 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of J. Kell and J. Heathershaw and is identified by the Note Issue Department wording.

Issue Identification

Reference: R39
Issue year: 1927
Signatures: J. Kell / J. Heathershaw
Imprint: Note Issue Department
Prefix range: Q/7 to Q/11
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 180 × 78 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Imprint identification: R39 is distinguished from the other 1927 Kell & Heathershaw issue by the Note Issue Department wording. The supplied reference records 66 known surviving R39 notes.

R39 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R39Mid-range prefixes Q/8 to Q/10$869$1,737$3,764$9,457$17,370$27,020
R39FFirst prefix Q/7$965$2,027$4,729$11,098$18,818$29,915
R39LLast prefix Q/11$1,062$2,316$5,211$12,545$21,230$31,845

Commonwealth Bank issue, obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1927 COMMONWEALTH BANK

R40

1927 Five Pounds - Kell & Heathershaw

The R40 Five Pounds issue also carries the signatures of J. Kell and J. Heathershaw, but is identified by the Commonwealth Bank wording rather than the Note Issue Department imprint used on R39.

Issue Identification

Reference: R40
Issue year: 1927
Signatures: J. Kell / J. Heathershaw
Imprint: Commonwealth Bank
Prefix range: Q/7 to Q/11
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 180 × 78 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Imprint identification: R40 is separated from R39 by its Commonwealth Bank wording. The supplied reference records 67 known surviving R40 notes.

R40 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R40Mid-range prefixes Q/8 to Q/10$724$1,641$3,764$9,457$16,888$26,055
R40FFirst prefix Q/7$869$2,027$4,536$10,615$14,958$30,398
R40LLast prefix Q/11$917$2,316$4,922$11,580$16,405$32,810

Note Issue Department issue, obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1927 NOTE ISSUE DEPARTMENT

R41

1927 Five Pounds - Riddle & Heathershaw

The R41 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of E. C. Riddle and J. Heathershaw and retains the Note Issue Department wording.

Issue Identification

Reference: R41
Issue year: 1927
Signatures: E. C. Riddle / J. Heathershaw
Imprint: Note Issue Department
Prefix range: Q/11 to Q/12
Mid-range prefixes: None
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 180 × 78 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Collector note: The supplied reference records only 14 known surviving R41 notes.
Identification note: During this period the title changed from the Note Issue Department wording to Commonwealth Bank wording. The supplied reference notes that a mixture of printing plates is believed to explain why R41 was printed with the older title.

R41 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R41FFirst prefix Q/11$4,729$9,457$17,370$37,635$66,585$95,535
R41LLast prefix Q/12$5,211$10,615$18,818$41,495$71,410$109,045

Commonwealth Bank issue, obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1927 COMMONWEALTH BANK

R42

1927 Five Pounds - Riddle & Heathershaw

The R42 Five Pounds issue also carries the signatures of E. C. Riddle and J. Heathershaw, but is identified by the Commonwealth Bank wording.

Issue Identification

Reference: R42
Issue year: 1927
Signatures: E. C. Riddle / J. Heathershaw
Imprint: Commonwealth Bank
Prefix range: Q/11 to Q/26
Mid-range prefixes: Q/12 to Q/25
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 180 × 78 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Imprint identification: R42 is separated from R41 by the Commonwealth Bank wording. The signatures remain the same, so the imprint is an important identification feature.

R42 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R42Mid-range prefixes Q/12 to Q/25$290$724$1,448$3,281$6,176$11,098
R42FFirst prefix Q/11$483$965$1,834$4,053$7,141$12,545
R42LLast prefix Q/26$410$820$1,641$3,667$6,562$11,098

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1932 ISSUE

R43

1932 Five Pounds - Riddle & Sheehan

The 1932 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of E. C. Riddle and H. Sheehan. It continues the King George V Five Pounds design used during this period.

Issue Identification

Reference: R43
Issue year: 1932
Signatures: E. C. Riddle / H. Sheehan
Prefix range: Q/26 to Q/29
Mid-range prefixes: Q/27 to Q/28
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 180 × 78 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Hawkesbury River, Brooklyn, NSW
Prefix identification: Q/26 is separately recognised as the first prefix and Q/29 as the last prefix. Q/27 and Q/28 make up the mid-range group.

R43 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R43Mid-range prefixes Q/27 to Q/28$676$1,448$3,667$10,133$16,888$28,950
R43FFirst prefix Q/26$772$1,641$4,053$10,615$18,335$29,915
R43LLast prefix Q/29$772$1,641$4,053$10,615$18,335$29,915

Pink-face variety, obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1933 PINK-FACE VARIETY

R44a

1933 Five Pounds - Riddle & Sheehan

The 1933 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of E. C. Riddle and H. J. Sheehan. The R44a variety is identified by the pink face of King George V, produced by fine cross-hatching within the portrait oval.

This legal-tender design includes a blank watermark area intended for the profile of Edward, Prince of Wales. The pink-face and white-face varieties were created by a difference in the portrait printing and occur in broadly similar numbers.

Issue Identification

Reference: R44a
Issue year: 1933
Signatures: E. C. Riddle / H. J. Sheehan
Variety: Pink face of King George V
Portrait detail: Fine cross-hatching present
Prefix range: R/0 to R/10
Mid-range prefixes: R/1 to R/9
Total printed for R44 issue: 20,338,000
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 181 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Bas-relief panel, “Commerce”
Variety identification: Look closely at the King's portrait. On R44a, fine pink cross-hatching is visible in the portrait oval, giving the face a pink-toned appearance.

R44a Pink-Face Collector Values

Reference Prefix / variety detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R44aPink face - mid-range prefixes R/1 to R/9$531$1,062$1,930$3,764$6,852$11,580
R44aFPink face - first prefix R/0$579$1,158$2,220$4,343$8,010$12,545
R44aLPink face - last prefix R/10$676$1,351$2,413$4,343$8,299$13,993

White-face variety, obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1933 WHITE-FACE VARIETY

R44b

1933 Five Pounds - Riddle & Sheehan

The R44b variety is the companion to the pink-face issue and carries the same signatures of E. C. Riddle and H. J. Sheehan. It is identified by the white face of King George V, where the fine cross-hatching seen on R44a is absent.

Issue Identification

Reference: R44b
Issue year: 1933
Signatures: E. C. Riddle / H. J. Sheehan
Variety: White face of King George V
Portrait detail: Fine cross-hatching absent
Prefix range: R/10 to R/20
Mid-range prefixes: R/11 to R/19
Total printed for R44 issue: 20,338,000
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 181 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: King George V
Reverse: Bas-relief panel, “Commerce”
Variety identification: On R44b, the fine pink cross-hatching is omitted from the King's portrait oval, leaving the face noticeably lighter than the R44a pink-face variety.

R44b White-Face Collector Values

Reference Prefix / variety detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R44bWhite face - mid-range prefixes R/11 to R/19$724$1,255$2,027$3,957$7,238$12,545
R44bFWhite face - first prefix R/10$869$1,255$2,220$4,150$8,010$13,993
R44bLWhite face - last prefix R/20$965$1,351$2,413$4,343$8,685$14,958

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1939 ISSUE

R45

1939 Five Pounds - Sheehan & McFarlane

The 1939 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of H. J. Sheehan and S. G. McFarlane. This issue introduced the portrait of King George VI to the Five Pounds denomination.

Issue Identification

Reference: R45
Issue year: 1939
Signatures: H. J. Sheehan / S. G. McFarlane
Prefix range: R/20 to R/34
Mid-range prefixes: R/21 to R/33
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 181 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: King George VI
Reverse: Bas-relief panel, “Commerce”
Series note: The 1939-1954 Five Pounds series retained the same general design, with the portrait changed from King George V to King George VI. The supplied reference records a total printing of approximately 136,956,000 notes across the series.

R45 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R45Mid-range prefixes R/21 to R/33$121$217$483$1,351$2,509$4,922
R45FFirst prefix R/20$145$265$627$1,255$3,088$5,597
R45LLast prefix R/34$169$314$724$1,834$3,667$6,562

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1941 ISSUE

R46

1941 Five Pounds - Armitage & McFarlane

The 1941 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of H. T. Armitage and S. G. McFarlane. It continues the King George VI design introduced in 1939.

Issue Identification

Reference: R46
Issue year: 1941
Signatures: H. T. Armitage / S. G. McFarlane
Prefix range: R/34 to R/44
Mid-range prefixes: R/35 to R/43
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 181 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: King George VI
Reverse: Bas-relief panel, “Commerce”
Prefix identification: R/34 is separately recognised as the first prefix and R/44 as the last prefix. R/35 to R/43 form the mid-range group.

R46 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R46Mid-range prefixes R/35 to R/43$53$145$338$531$965$1,641
R46FFirst prefix R/34$72$217$410$772$1,351$2,220
R46LLast prefix R/44$72$217$410$772$1,351$2,220

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1949 ISSUE

R47

1949 Five Pounds - Coombs & Watt

The 1949 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of H. C. Coombs and G. P. N. Watt. It continues the King George VI design used through the later pre-decimal Five Pounds series.

Issue Identification

Reference: R47
Issue year: 1949
Signatures: H. C. Coombs / G. P. N. Watt
Prefix range: R/45 to S/26
Mid-range prefixes: R/46 to S/25
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 181 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: King George VI
Reverse: Bas-relief panel, “Commerce”
Prefix identification: R/45 is the separately recognised first prefix, while S/26 is the last prefix. The mid-range covers R/46 through to S/25.

R47 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R47Mid-range prefixes R/46 to S/25$53$145$241$579$1,062$1,834
R47FFirst prefix R/45$72$193$386$869$1,641$2,316
R47LLast prefix S/26$72$193$386$869$1,641$2,316

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1952 ISSUE

R48

1952 Five Pounds - Coombs & Wilson

The 1952 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of H. C. Coombs and Roland Wilson. It is the final signature combination listed in the supplied 1939-1954 Five Pounds reference group.

Issue Identification

Reference: R48
Issue year: 1952
Signatures: H. C. Coombs / Roland Wilson
Prefix range: S/27 to S/57
Mid-range prefixes: S/28 to S/56
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 181 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: King George VI
Reverse: Bas-relief panel, “Commerce”
Prefix identification: S/27 is the separately recognised first prefix and S/57 the last prefix. S/28 to S/56 form the mid-range group.

R48 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R48Mid-range prefixes S/28 to S/56$53$121$241$579$1,062$1,834
R48FFirst prefix S/27$72$169$362$772$1,448$2,316
R48LLast prefix S/57$87$193$410$820$1,641$2,702

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1954 ISSUE

R49

1954 Five Pounds - Coombs & Wilson

The 1954 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of H. C. Coombs and Roland Wilson and is identified by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia title.

The obverse features Sir John Franklin, while the reverse carries a mural depicting primary producers with an Aboriginal theme at the centre.

Issue Identification

Reference: R49
Issue year: 1954
Signatures: H. C. Coombs / Roland Wilson
Bank title: Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Prefix range: TA/00 to TB/41
Mid-range prefixes: TA/01 to TB/40
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 167 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: Sir John Franklin
Reverse: Primary-producers mural with Aboriginal theme at centre
Prefix identification: TA/00 is the separately recognised first prefix and TB/41 the last prefix. TA/01 to TB/40 form the mid-range group.

R49 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R49Mid-range prefixes TA/01 to TB/40$19$39$72$193$338$531
R49FFirst prefix TA/00$72$193$314$676$1,158$1,834
R49LLast prefix TB/41$97$217$458$869$1,544$2,220

Obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

1960 ISSUE

R50

1960 Five Pounds - Coombs & Wilson

The 1960 Five Pounds issue carries the signatures of H. C. Coombs and Roland Wilson. The principal identification change from R49 is the Reserve Bank of Australia title.

Issue Identification

Reference: R50
Issue year: 1960
Signatures: H. C. Coombs / Roland Wilson
Bank title: Reserve Bank of Australia
Mid-range prefixes: TB/42 to TD/08
First prefix: TB/41
Last prefix: TD/09
Additional listed last-prefix type: TD/10 (X NPA)
Basic colour: Blue
Dimensions: approximately 167 × 79 mm
Obverse portrait: Sir John Franklin
Reverse: Primary-producers mural with Aboriginal theme at centre
Bank-title identification: R50 uses the Reserve Bank of Australia title, distinguishing it from the earlier R49 Commonwealth Bank of Australia issue.

R50 Collector Values

Reference Prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R50Mid-range prefixes TB/42 to TD/08$14$29$63$169$265$483
R50FFirst prefix TB/41$193$217$410$724$1,158$1,737
R50LLast prefix TD/09 (ex-circulation)$145$217$362$627$965$1,448
R50XLast prefix TD/10 (ex-NPA)$217$290$362$434$676$917

Star replacement note obverse and reverse. Click either image to enlarge.

STAR REPLACEMENT NOTE

R50S

1960 Coombs & Wilson Five Pounds Star Note

A star at the end of the serial number identifies a replacement note substituted for a spoiled note during printing. These notes are collected and valued separately from the normal R50 issue.

Issue Identification

Reference: R50S
Issue year: 1960
Signatures: H. C. Coombs / Roland Wilson
Type: Star replacement note
Mid-range star prefixes: TC/11 to TC/12
First star prefix: TC/10
Last star prefix: TC/13
Star-note identification: Look for the star symbol at the end of the serial number. The supplied reference separately lists TC/10 as the first star prefix and TC/13 as the last.

R50S Star Note Collector Values

Reference Star prefix detail VG F VF EF aUNC UNC
R50SStar note - mid-range prefixes TC/11 to TC/12$724$1,255$2,895$7,238$12,545$19,783
R50SFFirst star prefix TC/10$917$1,351$2,799$7,624$12,545$21,713
R50SLLast star prefix TC/13$1,062$1,448$3,088$8,685$13,993$22,678