Description and research notes
Specimen traveller’s cheque for £5 issued by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, Limited. Printed in blue and green with the same allegorical vignette of a child with fleece used across the series, embodying the themes of trust, productivity, and growth.
The CBC of Sydney was a cornerstone of Australian finance, founded in 1834 and later merging into the National Australia Bank. Its traveller’s cheque program reflected both the confidence and sophistication of the postwar Australian economy. Before credit cards, such cheques provided a secure means for travellers to carry and exchange money internationally, backed by the issuing bank’s reputation.
Perforated SPECIMEN with zero serials (No. M00.000), this archival piece was produced for approval and reference, pairing directly with the photographic proof that documented the design’s development. It represents the intersection of currency design and financial modernization, showing how Australian banking adopted global printing standards while maintaining distinctly Commonwealth-era aesthetics.