20 Australian Pounds (1913 – 1918 Arms Series)

Meta description: Exchange 20 Australian Pound banknotes (1913–1918 Arms Series). UK service for exchanging old Australian currency. Instant online valuation.

The 20 Australian Pounds banknote from the 1913–1918 Arms Series forms part of the first nationally issued Commonwealth paper money following federation. Printed by the Australian Note Printing Branch, the denomination represented a substantial amount at the time and was primarily used in larger commercial payments and banking transactions. The design reflects early Commonwealth identity, combining formal heraldry with detailed narrative engraving and complex ornamental security work.

On the front of the banknote, the heading Commonwealth of Australia Australian Note arches prominently across the upper section above the legal tender promise that the Treasurer will pay the bearer twenty pounds in gold coin on demand at the Commonwealth Treasury. The Australian Coat of Arms appears at the left within a decorative panel, while large denomination panels marked “20” are positioned in each corner for quick recognition. Serial numbers are printed in matching positions near the top, and official signatures appear along the lower margin. The background consists of layered guilloché patterns in blue and green tones, creating both visual depth and counterfeit resistance.

The reverse presents a circular central vignette depicting forestry workers cutting timber in a dense woodland setting. Figures with axes and saws are shown working around a large tree trunk, symbolising resource development and industry in early twentieth-century Australia. The scene is framed by elaborate geometric and floral border patterns, with the denomination Twenty Pounds repeated along the lower margin and within decorative corner panels.

As a withdrawn historic issue, the 20 Australian Pounds (1913–1918 Arms Series) is no longer exchangeable through banks or high-street currency bureaux and is often discovered in inherited collections, archived paperwork, or historic financial holdings. If you would like to exchange foreign coins and notes, our UK-based service offers a straightforward alternative.

• Indicate the quantity of 20 Australian Pound banknotes you want to exchange

• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button

• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Early Commonwealth banknotes frequently fall outside modern banking exchange systems, leaving many owners unsure how to realise any value. We exchange leftover currency for individuals, charities, and businesses across the UK, providing a secure and trusted way to convert obsolete foreign banknotes into pounds when traditional providers cannot process them.