1940 Sheehan McFarlane, First Prefix, Ten Pounds (R58)

Four signature combinations appeared on our Commonwealth of Australia Ten Pounds during the era of George VI, the Sheehan McFarlane combination being the very first, released in 1940.

Sir Harry Sheehan signing in his capacity as Governor of the Commonwealth Bank and Mr Stuart Gordon McFarlane as Secretary to the Commonwealth Treasury.

This was followed by the Armitage McFarlane combination in 1943, Coombs Watt in 1949 and the last pairing in 1952 of Coombs Wilson.  

The Sheehan McFarlane signature combination is by far the scarcest out of the George VI era.

A total of 21,924,000 Ten Pounds were printed during the George VI era (embracing the four signature combinations) with the Sheehan McFarlane signatories by far the scarcest with just under 10 per cent of the total Ten Pounds production.

The banknotes of George VI continued the colour and basic design of the deceased King George V.

Only minor modifications were made to the design ahead of its issue in 1940.

• The portrait of George VI replaced that of George V.
• And the watermark was changed from Edward VIII to Captain James Cook.

It is noted that the design of the banknote remained unchanged throughout the reign of George VI, with only the signatories being modified.

It is also noted that the signature combination of Sheehan & McFarlane was printed in red ink.

The remaining three combinations of Armitage McFarlane, Coombs Watt and Coombs Wilson were printed in black ink.