Fifty Dollars 1973 - 1993

1973  Phillips/Wheeler  Uncirculated

Prefixes YAB - YAT  L: $268  H: $360  [$425] [$425]

First Prefix YAA  L: $906  H: $1500  [$1450] [$1350]

Last Prefix YAU  L: $825  H: $1500  [$1500] [$1500]

1975  Knight/Wheeler  Uncirculated

Prefixes YAW - YBW  Centre Thread  L: $214  H: $450  [$450] [$450]

First Prefix YAV  Centre Thread  L: $488  H: $900  [$900] [$900]

Last Prefix YBX  Centre Thread  L: $456  H: $885  [$850] [$800]

Prefixes YAW - YCY  Side Thread  L: $214  H: $373  [$450] [$450]

First Prefix YAV  Side Thread  L: $488  H: $900  [$900] [$875]

Last Prefix YCZ  Side Thread  L: $456  H: $850  [$850] [$850]

1979  Knight/Stone  Uncirculated

Prefixes YDB - YHG  L: $180  H: $250  [$350] [4350]

First Prefix YDA  L: $381  H: $663  [$650] [$650]

Last Prefix YHH  L: $363  H: $638  [$650] [$650]

1983  Johnston/Stone  Uncirculated

Prefixes YHK - YNR  L: $198  H: $325  [$350] [$330]

First Prefix YHJ  L: $394  H: $700  [$725] [$725]

Last Prefix YNS  L: $394  H: $700  [$700] [$700]

1985  Johnston/Fraser  Uncirculated

Prefixes YNU - YXG  Gothic  L: $203  H: $325  [$350] [$325]

First Prefix YNT  Gothic  L: $394  H: $700  [$700] [$750]

Last Prefix YXH  Gothic  L: $438  H: $763  [$750] [$725]

Prefixes YUF - YXG - OCR-B  L: $334  H: $600  [$600] [$550]

First Prefix YUE - OCR-B  L: $638  H: $1100  [$1050] [$1000]

Last Prefix YXH - OCR-B  L: $831  H: $1480  [$1500] [$1450]

1989  Phillips/Fraser  Uncirculated

Prefixes YXK - YYT  L: $123  H: $213  [$225] [$225]

First Prefix YXJ  L: $331  H: $575  [$575] [$600]

Last Prefix YYU  L: $296  H: $550  [$600] [4600]

1990  Fraser/Higgins  Uncirculated

Prefixes YYW - WDC  L: $213  H: $300  [$375] [$375]

First Prefix YYV  L: $388  H: $675  [$675] [$650]

Last Prefix WDD  L: $438  H: $725  [$725] [$725]

1991  Fraser/Cole  Uncirculated

Prefixes WBU - WGA  With Plate Letter  L: $115  H: $250  [$250] [$275]

First Prefix WBT  With Plate Letter  L: $294  H: $525  [$850] [$1100]

Last Prefix WGB  With Plate Letter  L: $319  H: $550  [$650] [$650]

Prefixes WES - WQG  Without Plate Letter  L: $115  H: $258  [$250] [$250]

First Prefix WER  Without Plate Letter  L: $294  H: $525  [$825] [$900]

Last Prefix WQH  Without Plate Letter  L: $319  H: $550  [$625] [$650]

1993  Fraser/Evans  Uncirculated

Prefixes WNZ - WZY  L: $114  H: $272  [$200] [$185]

Prefix FAA [Issued by NPA]  L: $165  H: $325  [$325] [$325]

First Prefix WNY  L: $325  H: $625  [$625] [$650]

Last Prefix FAB  L: $195  H: $388  [$375] [$350]

Prefix WZZ [Issued by NPA]  L: $165  H: $325  [$325] [$325]

• Introduced 1973, yellow/brown note.
   
• Obverse: Howard Florey (penicillin). Reverse: Ian Clunies Ross (agricultural science).
   
• Circulated until 1995 polymer replacement.
   
• Collectability: Key note for investors. Early signatures scarcer; top-grade UNC steadily appreciating.

It refers to the font used for the serial number. Gothic font is narrow compared to the OCR-B one.

It refers to the font used for the serial number. OCR-B (Optical Character Recognition) font is narrow compared to the Gothic one. OCR-B function was to facilitate the optical character recognition operations by specific electronic devices. It was accepted as the world standard in 1973.

It refers to the letters that can be found on banknotes. Here's where it can be found on a Fraser-Cole 1991 50 dollars banknote.

Starting in 1974, the Reserve Bank added a metallic security thread down the center of banknotes as a new security feature. Because the center position is also the place where people fold their banknotes, they used prematurely. This is why the Reserve Bank moved the position of the thread to the side. The location of the thread (a dark line) can easily be found by looking at the banknote with enough lights passing through it.

LAST UPDATED: 25th August 2025