Rare ChangeAU

RARE CHANGE / NOTES / PLATE 29 · £10 · 1952-1960 · NOTE

Ten pounds, Coombs/Wilson, and what it's worth

An Australian ten pound note signed by H.C. Coombs and R. Wilson, from any of its three printings (the 1952 King George VI design, or the Arthur Phillip design of 1954 or 1960).

Typical sale · Extremely Finen = 53

A genuine one, barely worn

$280

Middle half of sales $220 to $400. Lowest $120, highest $1,600.

Hammer prices (before buyer's fees) from 103 single-item sales at Noble Numismatics and Downies, 2016 to 2026. Updated 30 Oct 2026.

Prices by condition

AUD

Worn coins sell for less. Find the row that looks most like yours.

Heavily wornGood to Very Good · 3 sales

Too few sales for a fair price

WornFine · 13 sales

$260

Lightly wornVery Fine · 25 sales

$200

Barely wornExtremely Fine · 53 sales

$280

Never usedUncirculated · 9 sales

$700

Line: lowest to highest sale. Box: the middle half of sales. Dot: the median, half sold for more and half for less.

Recent sales

Hammer
DateConditionAuctionPrice
28 Jul 2026 Barely worn Noble $190
25 Nov 2025 Barely worn Noble $220
28 Jul 2025 Worn Noble $130
28 Jul 2025 Lightly worn Noble $110
28 Jul 2025 Barely worn Noble $550
18 Mar 2025 Worn Noble $190

How to check yours

Each letter on the drawing marks where to look. A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom helps.

Front of the note
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA£10£10PhillipCoombsWilsonAA/00 000000AA/00 000000Layout only, not to scale. Serial shown is an example.BCAD

  1. Do the two signatures read Coombs and Wilson?

    The two printed signatures on the front of the note
    YES
    The signatures are those of H.C. Coombs and R. Wilson.
    NO
    The signatures show another pair, such as Coombs and Watt, or Armitage and McFarlane.

  2. Does the prefix read WA/00?

    The letters and figures printed before the serial number on a Phillip note
    YES
    The prefix before the serial number reads WA/00, the first prefix of the 1954 Phillip printing.
    NO
    The prefix shows other letters or figures.

  3. Does the prefix read WA/62?

    The letters and figures printed before the serial number on a Phillip note
    YES
    The prefix before the serial number reads WA/62, the last prefix of the 1960 Phillip printing.
    NO
    The prefix shows other letters or figures.

  4. Is the printing or cutting visibly faulty?

    The whole note, front and back, including the edges
    YES
    The design is cut off or shifted, ink from another sheet shows on the note, part of the design is missing, or a flap of extra paper is attached.
    NO
    The design sits evenly within the edges and is fully printed.
Check mine from a photo

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Record

Face value
£10
Issued
1952 to 1960
Signatures
Coombs/Wilson (1952, 1954, 1960)
  • The Coombs/Wilson signatures were used on the King George VI ten pound note, in a printing dated 1952. [4][8]
  • The Phillip design was first issued in 1954, with Governor Arthur Phillip on the front and a female figure with symbols of science and industry on the back. [1][4][14]
  • A later Coombs/Wilson printing of the Phillip design was issued from 1960. [9][4]
  • The King George VI ten pound design, first issued in 1940, shows an agriculture scene on the back. [2][4]
  • No star replacement notes were made for the ten pound note. [7][12]
  • H.C. Coombs was Governor of the Commonwealth Bank from January 1949 and became the first Governor of the Reserve Bank in January 1960, serving until July 1968. [3][5]
  • Roland Wilson, the second signatory, headed the Treasury as its Secretary from 1 April 1951 to 27 October 1966. [6][10]

Questions

How much is a Ten pounds, Coombs/Wilson worth?

A genuine Ten pounds, Coombs/Wilson in barely worn condition (Extremely Fine) has typically sold for $280 at Australian auctions, with the middle half of sales between $220 and $400. Better-preserved examples sell for more.

How do I know if my Ten pounds, Coombs/Wilson is genuine?

Work through the checks above. They cover what genuine examples show and what altered or different versions don't. A photo can't prove a coin or note is genuine, so for a valuable find, ask a professional numismatist or a grading service before you sell.

Should I clean it?

No. Cleaning leaves fine scratches that collectors spot at once, and cleaned coins and notes sell for much less. Keep it as it is, in a paper envelope or a coin holder.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from at least two independent sources. Prices come from our own record of auction results.

  1. RBA Museum: 1950s Series (Change and Stability pocket guide), read 29 Oct 2026
  2. RBA Museum: Ash Series 1938-1940 (Change and Stability pocket guide), read 29 Oct 2026
  3. Reserve Bank of Australia: Governors, read 29 Oct 2026
  4. Wikipedia: Banknotes of the Australian pound, read 29 Oct 2026
  5. Wikipedia: H. C. Coombs, read 29 Oct 2026
  6. Wikipedia: Roland Wilson (economist), read 29 Oct 2026
  7. Sterling & Currency: Star Replacement Notes in Australia - How to Collect Them, read 29 Oct 2026
  8. Sterling & Currency: 1952 Ten Pound Coombs/Wilson R61, read 29 Oct 2026
  9. Sterling & Currency: 1960 Ten Pound Coombs/Wilson WA/62 Last Prefix R63, read 29 Oct 2026
  10. Sterling & Currency: 1966 $10 Star Note Coombs/Wilson R301sF, read 29 Oct 2026
  11. Sterling & Currency: Rare, Wrong, and Worth Collecting - The Appeal of Misprinted Banknotes, read 29 Oct 2026
  12. Australian Coins: Star Notes or Star Replacement Banknotes, read 29 Oct 2026
  13. Coins and Australia: Errors and misprints on Australian banknotes, read 29 Oct 2026
  14. aBanknote: Australia 10 Pounds 1954-1960 (P#32), read 29 Oct 2026