Lot 4878

Description

Fifty pounds, Coombs/Wilson (c.1956), Specimen with number 000000, grey black border with lilac and green backgrounds/olive green; uncertain watermark, front states 'Commonwealth of Australia Legal Tender in the Commonwealth and in all Territories Under the Control of the Commonwealth Fifty Pounds', in the frame around 'Australian Note' above and 'Fifty Pounds' below, the main statement of denomination 'Fifty Pounds' is written across in a tablet under the portrait of Sir Henry Parkes, the arms of Australia to left in the watermark tablets, and the denomination £50 placed in each corner; back reads on frame above 'Commonwealth of Australia' and below Fifty Pounds, the denomination £50 placed on corners, the design represents Architecture and Art, with a allegorical figure holding a temple on the left and another figure with canvas frame and pallette with brushes on right, (R.-, Mc.TBA [p.203]). Has been mounted on the left edge with glue on the back, has also had minor retouching by hand probably by the artist on top left area and with four small circular spots two on the upper right and two lower right edge areas, otherwise nearly uncirculated and the only example known in private hands.

Published initially in Australian Coin Review (ACR) March 1996, illustrated on the front cover and described on p.7-8; also included with the lot a five page photocopy of a paper by Michael P. Vort-Ronald 'The Henry Parkes Fifty Pound Note'. The note was also published in ACR May 1996 by Michael Vort-Ronald as 'The Unissued Henry Parkes Å“50 Note', p.29-31.