$5 banknotes tatty but still usable

By DANIEL JACKSON

Sir Edmund Hillary's face may look worn but he's still good value, says the Reserve Bank.

The climbing legend's image is starting to wear, along with other images on plastic $5 notes that have been in circulation for almost two years.

Brian Lang, the head of the currency department at the Reserve Bank, said some notes in circulation looked tatty but were still usable because security features, including clear areas and shadow images, were intact.

"There is some evidence on the notes of cracking in the ink ... but you can still recognise them as a $5 note."

While there was no difference in quality between the fives and other plastic notes, the fives wore quicker because they did more work, he said.

The Reserve Bank would replace tired notes, but many retailers kept fives as a float, instead of banking them.

"They keep them regardless of their condition so we don't get a chance to cull them out," said Mr Lang.

The notes went into circulation in October 1999 and the bank was pleased with their performance, he said. Many paper $5 notes had lasted only six months.

Police chief document examiner Allan Herkt said the note's fading image did not make it easier to copy.

"The fact that some of the printed image is or is not missing wouldn't cause me any concern."