About Australian PRE-Decimal Paper Banknotes
Australia’s One Pound Notes – 1953 & 1961
Fair Market Value Update – One Pound Banknotes (1953 & 1961) Series: Coombs – Wilson |
Era: Commonwealth / Reserve Bank Transition Design: Queen Elizabeth II – Pastoral & Agriculture | Denomination: £1 (Australian Pound)
1. Historical Context The 1953 One Pound note was the first Australian issue to feature Queen Elizabeth II, introduced under the Commonwealth Bank and followed by the Reserve Bank’s 1961 issue. Designed by M. Napier Waller, the note carried the pastoral and agricultural themes symbolic of post-war Australia. Over 1.1 billion £1 notes were printed, making it the most common pre-decimal denomination, yet high-grade examples have thinned due to heavy circulation and decades of handling.
2. Current FMV Benchmarks (Nov 2025) All valuations below represent weighted Fair Market Value (FMV) averages based on verified and reliable sources for Coombs–Wilson notes.
3. Primary FMV Drivers
1. Grade Progression – From VF upwards, value grows exponentially as originality improves.
2. Prefix Hierarchy – Early Commonwealth HA-series and final Reserve issues carry stronger collector weight.
3. Star Replacements – Star notes are a distinct FMV tier and often outperform first/last prefixes.
4. Certification & Provenance – Verified examples trade faster and maintain stronger FMV integrity.
4. Market Momentum
The £1 denomination continues to show sustained retail activity, with aUNC–UNC examples leading demand. Over the past 12 months, FMV growth has averaged 8–12% in high grades, driven by crossover collectors upgrading from polymer to paper. Liquidity remains immediate for crisp notes under A$120, while star and first-prefix examples are achieving multiple over-guide sales.
5. roBBie Kovak™ FMV Position Our Fair Market Value benchmark reflects historical data, and grade verification — not catalogue fiction.
This update sets the reference standard for the 1953 and 1961 One Pound notes across collector networks, anchored to real-world FMV verified and authenticated at every level.
Fair Market Value delivers verified data — not catalogue fiction — giving collectors a transparent benchmark they can trust.