Millions of $50 notes contain a huge blunder–Do you have them too?
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 25
It's not every day you look closely at your notes and expect to find a blunder.
However, it seems that millions of Australian $50 banknotes have been carrying a little typo that might have eluded the eyes of the general public for quite some time.
Believe it or not, these notes could still be in your wallet!
The blunder lies in the misspelling of the word 'responsibility', which appears as 'responsibilty' on the note.
This error is not just a one-off but is repeated three times on the note as part of a speech by Australia's first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan, whose portrait graces the note.
The speech, which is a significant part of Australia's political history, reads: 'I stand here today in the unique position of being the first woman in an Australian parliament.’
‘It is a great responsibility.' The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), responsible for the printing and circulation of the notes, was made aware of the error in 2018.
A spokesperson for the RBA stated that the spelling mistake would be corrected in the next print run.
They added, ‘We are not withdrawing or recalling banknotes with the spelling error. They will remain in circulation until they reach their normal end-of-life.’
Despite the widespread distribution of these notes, rare currency dealer Jim Noble clarified that the misprint would not increase their value, given the sheer number of them in circulation.
'That's a very embarrassing error,' Noble commented.
'The buck stops with those who are producing it. It's a joke for Australia.'
However, some of these errors may actually be worth more than you think!
A rare misprinted batch of ‘Mob of Roos’ $1 coin from 2005–whose blank planchet was accidentally fed 2-3 cm off-centre–can be valued between $300 and $3000 online, depending on its condition.
Also, a 2-cent coin showcases a frilled-neck lizard design created by the famous Australian artist and metalworker Stuart Devlin.
Devlin’s signature, represented by the initials ‘SD’, can be found underneath the lizard’s belly on most of these coins. But a number of these coins lack his initials. These 2-cent coins were priced as high as $499.99 on eBay.
Have you come across one of these $50 notes? Share your experiences in the comments below!
However, it seems that millions of Australian $50 banknotes have been carrying a little typo that might have eluded the eyes of the general public for quite some time.
Believe it or not, these notes could still be in your wallet!
The blunder lies in the misspelling of the word 'responsibility', which appears as 'responsibilty' on the note.
This error is not just a one-off but is repeated three times on the note as part of a speech by Australia's first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan, whose portrait graces the note.
The speech, which is a significant part of Australia's political history, reads: 'I stand here today in the unique position of being the first woman in an Australian parliament.’
‘It is a great responsibility.' The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), responsible for the printing and circulation of the notes, was made aware of the error in 2018.
A spokesperson for the RBA stated that the spelling mistake would be corrected in the next print run.
They added, ‘We are not withdrawing or recalling banknotes with the spelling error. They will remain in circulation until they reach their normal end-of-life.’
Despite the widespread distribution of these notes, rare currency dealer Jim Noble clarified that the misprint would not increase their value, given the sheer number of them in circulation.
'That's a very embarrassing error,' Noble commented.
'The buck stops with those who are producing it. It's a joke for Australia.'
However, some of these errors may actually be worth more than you think!
A rare misprinted batch of ‘Mob of Roos’ $1 coin from 2005–whose blank planchet was accidentally fed 2-3 cm off-centre–can be valued between $300 and $3000 online, depending on its condition.
Also, a 2-cent coin showcases a frilled-neck lizard design created by the famous Australian artist and metalworker Stuart Devlin.
Devlin’s signature, represented by the initials ‘SD’, can be found underneath the lizard’s belly on most of these coins. But a number of these coins lack his initials. These 2-cent coins were priced as high as $499.99 on eBay.
Key Takeaways
- An embarrassing spelling error was found on Australia's $50 notes, with 'responsibility' misspelled as 'responsibilty'.
- The mistake is part of the microprint featuring a speech by Australia's first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan, and appears three times on the note.
- Despite being aware of the error since 2018, the Reserve Bank of Australia has chosen not to recall the notes, stating they will remain in circulation until they reach their end-of-life.
- A rare currency dealer has stated that the notes with the error are unlikely to be worth more since there are millions in circulation, and the error is considered to be an embarrassing oversight.