Guardian "50" Polymer Test/Promotional Note - Charles Darwin

Guardian "50" polymer test/promotional note, expertly crafted by Orell Fussli Security Printing Ltd of Switzerland. This unique note showcases HMS Beagle on the obverse and features Charles Darwin on the reverse, with the serial number GW11 8 99 396. In pristine Uncirculated (Unc) condition, it is a prime example of innovation in currency.

Guardian, the proprietary polymer substrate, is a trailblazer in the world of banknote printing, employed by over 30 central banks globally. This advanced material was developed in collaboration with CSIRO, the University of Melbourne, and the Reserve Bank of Australia. The inaugural polymer note, the Johnston-Fraser Bicentenary Ten Dollars, was issued in 1988.

For collectors, this particular note is catalogued on polymernotes.de as an Australian banknote under the Australian Decimal Banknotes category, making it a notable piece in any collection.

This note is also in an original presentation folder of which there are only a few hundred known examples.