Description
1967 Australia $10 – Coombs / Randall – Unc- #SFA 224291🔥 RARE
The Australian banknotes that bear the Coombs Randall signature combination are scarce in all denominations from $1 up to the $20.
Why are Coombs Randall notes so scarce?
Three factors:
Australia’s decimal changeover was in the planning stage for years, involving the introduction of decimal banknotes and the withdrawal of our pre-decimal notes. To this end, the Government printed a massive quantity of the first decimal notes that featured the Coombs Wilson signature combination.
When banknote signatory Roland Wilson retired in 1966, notes featuring his replacement Richard Randall were simply not required until later in 1967 (and 1968 in the case of the $1 note).
The retirement of Herbert “Nugget” Coombs in 1968 saw a new signature combination of Phillips Randall appear: a combination that lasted several years.
A surplus of the very first decimal banknotes – and a spate of retirements of our banknote signatories in a space of two years – are the reasons why less than 2 per cent of all 'Commonwealth of Australia' (1966-73) notes were issued in the names of Coombs & Randall.
