Nellie MELBA gives voice on the new Australian 100 AUD banknote!

Nellie MELBA gives voice on the new Australian 100 AUD banknote!

A few days ago, the Reserve Bank of Australia (Reserve Bank of Australia) unveiled the visuals for its AUD100 banknote of the new series. On the obverse is a portrait of Dame Nellie Melba, an internationally renowned soprano. It is taken from a photograph of Melba, illustrating a biography first published in 1909 and written by Agnes G. Murphy, the artist’s private secretary.

 

Nellie MELBA gives voice on the new Australian 100 AUD banknote!

 

In the background is a photograph of Dame Nellie Melba in Rosina costume in Rossini’s Barber of Seville. It was taken by Leopold Emile Reutlinger in 1896.

 

Nellie MELBA gives voice on the new Australian 100 AUD banknote!

 

The musical score is a small part of Puccini’s La Bohème.

On the reverse features John Monash, an engineer, soldier and civic leader . He was instrumental in building the Shrine of Remembrance – which features on the banknote – in his hometown of Melbourne

 

Innovative new security features have been incorporated in the new $100 banknote to help keep it secure from counterfeiting.

These security features are similar to those in the $5, $10, $20 and $50 banknotes issued progressively since 2016, such as the top-to-bottom clear window that contains a number of dynamic features including a reversing number and flying bird. There is also a patch with a rolling colour effect and microprint featuring excerpts of a letter written by Monash and Melba’s autobiography Melodies and Memories.

Each banknote in the new series also features a different species of native Australia wattle and bird. The $100 banknote features the Golden Wattle (Acacia pyncantha) and the Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae).

The new $100 note is printed on 45-note plates.

 

Nellie MELBA gives voice on the new Australian 100 AUD banknote!

 

Sources: Australian Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne, National Archives of Australia, Lilydale & District Historical Society and NUMISMAG©.

 

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