About Australian PrE-Decimal Paper Banknotes
Australia’s Ten Shilling Notes – 1954 & 1961
Fair Market Value Update – Ten Shillings Banknotes (1954 & 1961)
Series: Coombs – Wilson | Era: Commonwealth / Reserve Bank Transition
Design: Queen Elizabeth II – Parliament House Canberra | Denomination: 10 Shillings (Australian Pre-Decimal)
1. Historical Context
The 1954 Ten Shillings note introduced the new Queen Elizabeth II portrait by W. H. Menzies, paired with Parliament House Canberra on the reverse. It was the smallest and most widely circulated denomination of the pre-decimal series, issued under the Commonwealth Bank in 1954 and later by the Reserve Bank from 1961. Over 550 million notes were produced before withdrawal in 1966, making the denomination a cornerstone of Australian currency history. Despite its abundance, finding crisp, original uncirculated notes has become increasingly difficult.
2. Current FMV Benchmarks (Nov 2025) All valuations below represent weighted Fair Market Value (FMV) averages compiled from verified reliable sources for Coombs–Wilson notes.
3. Primary FMV Drivers
1. Grade Progression – Each upward grade adds exponential FMV growth; EF to aUNC remains the largest leap.
2. Prefix Importance – Commonwealth ‘TA–TB’ prefixes and Reserve-era ‘TC–TD’ issues are tracked separately in FMV grids.
3. Star Replacements – Star notes are a distinct FMV tier, particularly in EF and higher grades.
4. Certification & Provenance – Graded and authenticated examples provide transparent liquidity advantages.
4. Market Momentum The Ten Shilling note continues to act as the ‘gateway’ denomination for new collectors entering the paper era. Steady demand for EF and better notes has driven a 10–15% FMV rise since late 2024. Dealer inventories of genuine UNC examples are now limited, resulting in consistent two-day turnover when priced within FMV brackets.
5. roBBie Kovak™ FMV Position Our Fair Market Value methodology reflects real-world pricing — verified historical data to ensure every valuation is transparent, traceable and accurate. This FMV update sets the current reference standard for 1954 and 1961 Ten Shilling banknotes across collector platforms.
Fair Market Value delivers verified data — not catalogue fiction — giving collectors a transparent benchmark they can trust.