Story: Coins and banknotes

First series of banknotes: 10 shillings (1st of 4)

First series of banknotes: 10 shillings

The first series of banknotes issued by the Reserve Bank in 1934 built on the existing designs and motifs of the Bank of New Zealand's notes. The notes were largely of the same design and size (178 by 98 millimetres) but differed in colour and in the borders, which featured Māori motifs. Each note was printed with its respective value and unique serial number.

On the front the notes feature a kiwi (by then well known as New Zealand's national bird), based on an engraving by Dutch artist John Gerrard Keulemans; the New Zealand coat of arms; and King Tāwhiao, the second Māori king (from a painting by Gottfried Lindauer). Mitre Peak in Fiordland is the main image on the back, on which the value of each note is also printed. There is a simple watermark, ‘Reserve Bank of New Zealand’.

The first-series 10-shilling note is a dark orange-red. Its border comprises carvings of Māori figures on the sides and kōwhaiwhai patterns at the top and bottom. The carvings are based on a poupou (post) from an old in Maketū, Bay of Plenty. The kōwhaiwhai, Ngutukura, is based on the hammerhead shark. At each corner, '10/-' is written. On the reverse, it is written in numerals and symbols, and in words.

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Reserve Bank of New Zealand

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Coins and banknotes - A national currency, 1930s to 1960s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/object/36389/first-series-of-banknotes-10-shillings (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 20 Jun 2012