...Australia - 1988 Bicentenary Coins and Banknotes Portfolio Album

This was the first joint venture issue between Note Printing Australia (NPA) and the Royal Australian Mint (RAM). This album consists of three proof coins ($2, $5 and $10) and three uncirculated notes of $2, $5 (both paper) and a $10 polymer 1998 commemorative dated note. The $10 polymer note was a one off commemorative issue. The $2 note featured the last prefix of LQG. The bank ceased printing the $2 paper note in 1988 following the release of the new $2 coin and in 1992 ceased issuing the paper $5 note when the first $5 polymer note was released. A total of 25,000 sets were released to the public at $120 each per set. Instead of printing separate certificates for each album, the set number for each set was taken from the serial number of the $5 note. In this case, this is set no 9,808 of 25,000 sets. The NPA/RAM retained the first 20 sets for their own archives and 4,980 sets with serial numbers ranging from 000021 to 005000 were sold at the International Coins and Banknotes Fair in Melbourne. Needless to say the lowest number one can buy was the set number 000021. The remaining 20,000 sets were sold via mail listing orders. It should be noted that there is nothing special about this unless you are also a coin collector. The serial numbers on the notes are not matching nor are they specially printed in other colours either. The notes are normal circulating type and neither of them has any special letter prefixes or commemorative text printed on it except that you get the last prefix paper note for the $2. Unfortunately this was not the case for the $5 note as at the time of the release, the $5 was still the current series then and the first $5 note was not issued until 1992. The last prefix for the $5 paper note series is QPG (RA Johnston/BW Fraser). This is just one of the many joint ventured numismatic products issued by NPA & RAM and in my opinion this issue was not a successful one either. It was never my intention to get this set until now as it has no special purpose, apart from paying a high premium for the folder and cover materials. Despite 20 years since it was first released, you can still get this set at an issued price or even less depending on your luck. In all, a total of 4 joint issues were released by NPA/RAM since 1988.

Folder Front Cover

Footnote/Opinion: -
In my opinion, this is not worth buying unless you have a big ego like me. There is nothing special at all for this set if you are a banknotes collector. However I am not sure about the coin. Only a serious coins collector can tell you this.