CPM Forum
Canadian Notes => Bank of Canada Notes => Topic started by: suretteda on March 13, 2012, 08:43:54 am
-
Numbering of Canadian bank notes
The first prefix letter indicates the printer:
A, B, C, D is for BA.
E, F, G, H is for CBN.
The second letter is a denomination letter:
$5: A, B, C, N, O, P.
$10: D, E, F, G, T.
$20: I, L, R, S, U, V, W, Y, Z.
$50: H, M.
$100: J, K.
The third letter indicates the series:
letters A through Z are used, except for I, O, Q, and X (eventhough CBN sometimes does use the letter I).
-
There are lots of exceptions to the above, but this data is generally accurate for current banknotes.
A, B, C, F, G, M, K, L, R and U were all previously used on now-defunct denominations, but have been re-purposed to current denominations.
Further, there are several series that have been completely reused (that is, the entire prefix). For example, AAA-AAZ was originally used on the 1973 $1s, but is being reused on the 2006 $5s. ALA-ALZ and ARA-ARZ are two other examples now being reused on the 2004 $20s. Our new polymer $100s started with EKA, a prefix that was originally used on the Birds $1000 notes.
Let's not forget EYF, the prefix of Birds $20s that was printed by BAI.
I could go on, but as I said, the above data is generally accurate for current issues.