D/I 1954 $1 Test Note Laser Marked

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I was just going through Geoffrey Bell's new auction catalogue (which has some really nice stuff in it) and noticed that there is a 1954 $1 Bank of Canada Laser Marked Test Note. Has anyone ever heard of this or seen this before?
Serial Number D/I4001180.

One question I have is that the accompanying BOC letter is dated Oct 23 1975 yet weren't new ones printed in 1973? Why do tesing on 1954 notes in 1975?
FRIEDSQUID

I saw these notes personally a little over a year ago while in London at the ONA Convention. Brian Bell was showing them to Graham Esler while he and I were having a chat.

D/I was the second-last prefix of the 1954 $1 notes. Even in 1975, these would have been very readily available. They may have been prepared earlier in the year, or maybe they were chosen for a specific reason. Twenty notes is far from sufficient for any sort of circulation trial, so I expect they were only meant as a series of single-note tests. I don't know, and it is likely that the actual answer is forever lost.

Well, how can you tell if it is a test note or not? I happen to have a D/I note.

Well, how can you tell if it is a test note or not? I happen to have a D/I note.

Send it to me and I will use my laser to determine if it has been marked
Or should be between the serial # 4001180-4001199
Your choice
FRIEDSQUID

I have not seen the note, but spoke with Brian about what to look for.

The note appears normal when looking at the note with no notable differences, but apparently when you hold the note up to the light you should see 4 spots (I believe it is 4) on the note that appear to be translucent in nature. I remember that he mentioned that 2 of these are in or near the serial number area.

you should see 4 sports

basketball, football, baseball,volleyball

I have a D/I 4007315....close but no cigar....dosen't appear to have any sports figures on it.....wait there does appear to be a hitch hiker way down the road on the back of the note??
anyone seen this before?

The note appears normal when looking at the note with no notable differences, but apparently when you hold the note up to the light you should see 4 sports (I believe it is 4) on the note that appear to be translucent in nature. I remember that he mentioned that 2 of these are in or near the serial number area.

Slight correction: These spots will be rough squares, formed from an array of microscopic holes. If my memory serves me correctly, there are four spots laid out as follows: one in each signature, and one in each serial number.

I am confident that if observed under a backlit microscope, the array of holes will be quite evident.

From the letter, it is a reasonable conclusion that only twenty of these notes were produced, and all were sent with the letter. This auction is for one of the notes, and I believe that the auctioneer is in possession of the remainder, but I cannot confirm this at present.

Thanks Brent for the clarification, and yes it was a type-O, LOL   

So if i understand correctly only about 19 D/I were used as internal test notes, not likely worth looking for,  unlike the G/R or E/R test note

So if i understand correctly only about 19 D/I were used as internal test notes, not likely worth looking for like a G/R or E/R test note

According to the letter there were 20 notes, and an offer to send more if needed.

Note Sold @ Auction:

Closed at: C $1,100.00  (approximately US $1,035.10) 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Geoffrey Bell Auctions
Estimate: C $1,000.00 - C $2,000.00
History: 2 bids 
Lot number: 1063

Auction Date: Aug-14-08 14:00:00 PDT   
High Bid: Internet Bidder
Item location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

(this is the hammer prices & does not include pb, taxes or shipping costs)

[attachment deleted by admin]

For more information on this note please see the December 2008 CPMS Newsletter.

I BOUGHT THAT NOTE IN JULY 2010 YOU CAN FIND FOUR SQUARES OF 4.5mm.x4.5mm. CONTAINING AROUND
2050 LASER HOLES IN EACH SQUARE TWO ARE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND 1 FROM YOUR LEFT
THE THIRD ONE IS UNDER THE LETTERS "AW" OF LAWSON AND THE FORTH ONE IS ALMOST TOUCHING THE BOUEY SIGNATURE ON YOUR RIGHT
IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE TO SEE THAT WITH A BACK LIGHT UNDER A MICROSCOPE


{http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6194/bc37dtdi4001181f.jpg:http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6194/bc37dtdi4001181f.th.jpg}


{http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1880/bc37dtdiletterf.jpg:http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1880/bc37dtdiletterf.th.jpg}

Im surprised that charlton has not yet listed this info. in the current catalogue. Perhaps this should be added into the 24th ed.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for this note?