A typographical error has been discovered on a batch of 46 million new Australian $50 banknotes currently circulating in the country.
The new banknote has the same word misspelled three times, local media reported on Thursday.
The word “responsibility’’ was spelled “responsibilty” three times on each note. The error first came into focus after a Melbourne radio station posted a photo on social media that was sent to them by a listener.
The error is contained in an extract of a speech given by Australia’s first female member of parliament as she entered office.
The banknote includes the text:
“It is a great responsibilty [sic] to be the only woman here, and I want to emphasize the necessity which exists for other women being here” from Edith Gowan’s 1921 in speech— misspelling “responsibility” as “responsibilty.”
A spokesperson for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said that authorities were aware of the mistake and said it will be corrected at the next print run, which will take place later this year.
Some 46 million polymer notes with the typo valuing 2.3 billion dollars in total (1.6 billion dollars) entered circulation in October.
Since a 1995 redesign, Australia’s 50-dollar note features Indigenous writer and inventor David Unaipon on one side, and the country’s first female parliamentarian, Edith Cowan, on the other.
The “new and improved’’ notes, which have the spelling mistakes, are designed to prevent counterfeiting and have the tactile feature of four raised bumps for people with disabilities.
The 50-dollar note is the most widely circulated banknote in Australia, according to the RBA.
NAN
