Year: 1966
Denomination: Twenty Dollars (Paper)
Signatories: H.C.Coombs, Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia
Roland Wilson, Secretary to the Treasury
Serial Number: XAD 323729 + 30
Renniks No.: R401
Approx Grade: UNC
Note Description:
Here is a very rare offer of two consecutive mint UNC twenty dollar paper notes from the very first year of decimal banknote production. Increasingly rare to find as consecutively numbered, this pair of banknotes are in fantastic condition and the pictures hardly do justice to them. A magnificent addition to any collection and a rock solid investment piece. Super sized images available.
Design Details:
Obverse:
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC (9 February 1897 – 8 November 1935), often called Charles Kingsford Smith, or by his nickname Smithy, was a well-known early Australian aviator. In 1928, he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia. He also made the first non-stop crossing of the Australian mainland, the first flights between Australia and New Zealand, and the first eastward Pacific crossing from Australia to the United States. He also made a flight from Australia to London, and set a new record of 10.5 days. On 2 January 1907 young Charlie Smith was rescued from certain drowning at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach by bathers who, just seven weeks later, were responsible for founding the world's first official surf life saving group at Bondi Beach on 21 February 1907, at a meeting held at the Royal Hotel Bondi Beach.
Reverse:
Lawrence Hargrave (29 January 1850 – 14 July 1915) was an engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer. An engraving of Lawrence Hargrave alongside a number of his gliders appeared on the reverse of the Australian $20 banknote from 1966 to 1994. There is a memorial to him at Bald Hill overlooking Stanwell Park beach. A centenary celebration and reenactment was held to commemorate the manlift in November 1994 at Stanwell Park. The Lawrence Hargrave Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Sydney University and the Hargrave-Andrew Engineering and Sciences library at Monash University are named in his honour. Australian commercial air-carrier QANTAS named it's fifth wide body A-380 aircraft VH-OQE after Lawrence Hargrave.
Watermark: Captain Cook in left panel
*All biographical details are taken from Wikipedia for education purposes only.