The Banknote Typos in History

Written by Michelle Selina Banknotes are more than just pieces of paper, they are symbols of a nation’s identity, security, and trust. While advanced security features like holograms, watermarks, and microprinting are critical to preventing counterfeiting, even the smallest typographical errors can undermine confidence and spark public debate. An example is Australia’s $50 banknote, which features a misspelled word in its micro print. This incident raises important questions about the quality control processes in banknote production and how such errors impact public perception. The Australian $50 Banknote Typo In 2018, Australia introduced a newly redesigned $50 banknote featuring Edith Cowan, the first woman elected to an Australian parliament. However, a spelling error was discovered in the microprint beside her portrait: the word “Responsibility” was misspelled as “Responsibilty.” Despite this error, approximately 46 ...