Australia's Bicentennial $10 Note

Abstract

The Australian Bicentennial $10 banknote represents a major break with traditional banknote technology. The note is the first to use plastic film as a replacement for fibre substrates such as paper, and to incorporate optical variable devices (OVD) as security features. These OVDS cannot be reproduced by the normal photographic processes. The 20-year history of the development of this technology is reviewed and comments made on the difficulty of introducing revolutionary technology into an existing industry.