New $50 Australian Banknotes Roll Into Effect!

Wanting to get some cash out? How about a brand spankin' new $50 Australian banknote?

The new $50 banknote enters general circulation TOMORROW and is the third denomination in the new series of banknotes, following the release of the $5 and $10 over the past two years. Soon enough, we'll be getting a new $20 in 2019 and $100 in 2020 to follow suit.

The $50 note is the denomination primarily used in ATMs and is the most widely circulated banknote.

Governor Philip Lowe said, "We were keen for the new $5 and $10 to be well accepted before we launched the most popular note, the $50. This has involved working closely with businesses to assist cash handlers and cash-handling machines to identify and use the notes, which will help minimise disruption to people and businesses."

The new $50 note has the basic design elements as the one in your wallet and it features portraits of Aboriginal writer and inventor, David Unaipon, and Australia's first female member of parliament, Edith Cowan. 

Both were campaigners for social change and their work is recognised in several design elements on the banknote. The microprint includes excerpts of Unaipon's book, Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines, and Cowan's first speech to the Western Australian Parliament.

The new banknote will also deter counterfeiting by having the same security features as the $5 and $10. 

 It has a top-to-bottom clear window that contains a number of dynamic features including a reversing number and flying bird, as well as microprint and a patch with a rolling colour effect.

It also has a ‘tactile’ feature to help the vision-impaired community distinguish between different denominations of banknotes. You'll find on the $50 note, there are four raised bumps on each of the long edges of the banknote.

But, don't be alarmed if you don't get your hands on the new banknote straight away, as it will take time for them to become widely available. Also, your original $50 notes are still able to be used - these will just be progressively withdrawn from circulation. 

For details on the new $50 banknote design and security features, head to banknotes.rba.gov.au