CPM REFERENCE ARTICLE ON FANCY/SPECIAL SERIAL NUMBERS

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

Many Forum members will already have seen the superb reference article by Mark Marschner published in the latest (June 2007) CPM Newsletter. As I was reading that article I had a strange feeling that I was back at high school attending a high-level mathematics class!

The collecting of special serial numbers is a narrow but very valid offshoot of Canadian paper money collecting. Personally speaking, I do not view it as paper money collecting in the traditional sense because the focus of the hunt is not on the basic attributes of the notes themselves but solely on the serial numbers printed thereon and, after all, special serial numbers are merely "quirks" of the serial numbering machines.

Mr. Marschner's article makes an important reference to the fact that current-issue notes with special serial numbers are cumulatively extremely plentiful and that they will become more plentiful in the future. Thus, it seems likely that the supply side will dominate the demand side for most categories of special numbers, at least for the foreseeable future. It seems logical to assume that many brick hunters are sitting on large or even huge stocks of special numbers. Prices on older Canadian notes have increased so rapidly in recent years that much formerly-affordable material is now out of reach for all but the wealthiest collectors. Many newer and younger collectors are therefore forced to seek other avenues of collecting to stimulate and maintain their interest. This type of thing has happened in the past in other collecting fields and is, of course, good for the health of the hobby in the long run.

Personally speaking, I feel that the time has come to consider publishing a separate catalogue for special serial numbers (including error notes?), perhaps with a title like "The Standard Catalogue of Special Serial Number Bank of Canada Paper Money".

Personally speaking, I feel that the time has come to consider publishing a separate catalogue for special serial numbers (including error notes?), perhaps with a title like "The Standard Catalogue of Special Serial Number Bank of Canada Paper Money".

I knew it was just a matter of time until people wanted my almost ladder notes

FRIEDSQUID

I just received my copy of the newsletter and the first article I read was
"THE GENERAL OVERVIEW OF SOME COLLECTIBLE SERIAL NUMBERS" by Mark Marschner.

I was actually greatful to see an article about this because it answers a lot of questions I have and had previously asked forum members when I first joined the forum.  There is definitely a lot of good information here and definitions of terminolgy that is second nature to some, but confusing to one just getting into the hobby. I'm sure new comers to the hobby will appreciate this information.  As for me, atleast I now have all the information in the same spot instead of going through hundreds of threads on the forum.

The one comment that was made on page 43 I somewhat disagree with, but this is only my personal opinion.

The author states "A really unlucky brick hunter will find that the radar and repeater notes have been replaced by insert notes"

Now I can't speak for others, but personally I would prefer to find insert notes(or as Hudson wants me to say, Replacement Notes) as opposed to the radar or repeater.  Anyone else agree.

I haven't read the aritcle yet, but I assume the writer means:  it would be better to have a regular numbered note replaced (and missed by the searcher) by an insert than a collectible note (rotator or radar) replaced by an insert.  This way the brick searcher has 2 collectible notes rather than 1.

Certainly an interesting aspect of our hobby. With many valid references as to why one collects banknotes at all.
I am constantly amazed with the appetite (and sale prices) for truly unique serial numbers, solids, single digit, million seriel numbers, and dramatic errors of our American counter-parts.
I know for certain that collecting million serial numbers and single digits would be excessively cost prohibitive to most banknote collectors at those prices.
Just to add, most old time dealers that I've ever talked to always say "you could get those banknotes all the time before"... and "now they're so hard to find"...
My point being, perhaps, more special numbers will be produced, but proportionally, there may be more collectors and interest to keep supply and demand in check.
A seperate catalogue / compilation of errors and special numbers would definately be interesting in helping to further that aspect of the hobby.

I just received my copy of the newsletter and the first article I read was
"THE GENERAL OVERVIEW OF SOME COLLECTIBLE SERIAL NUMBERS" by Mark Marschner.

I was actually greatful to see an article about this because it answers a lot of questions I have and had previously asked forum members when I first joined the forum.  There is definitely a lot of good information here and definitions of terminolgy that is second nature to some, but confusing to one just getting into the hobby. I'm sure new comers to the hobby will appreciate this information.  As for me, atleast I now have all the information in the same spot instead of going through hundreds of threads on the forum.

The one comment that was made on page 43 I somewhat disagree with, but this is only my personal opinion.

The author states "A really unlucky brick hunter will find that the radar and repeater notes have been replaced by insert notes"

Now I can't speak for others, but personally I would prefer to find insert notes(or as Hudson wants me to say, Replacement Notes) as opposed to the radar or repeater.  Anyone else agree.

I need someone to explain the charm of replacement notes to me, now that they're not connoted by an X or *?   I feel radas, rotators, repeaters have a visual appeal.  what are you guys getting from the new inserts, since the prefix isn't different?

I need someone to explain the charm of replacement notes to me, now that they're not connoted by an X or *?   I feel radars, rotators, repeaters have a visual appeal.  What are you guys getting from the new inserts, since the prefix isn't different?

That's an interesting question and one that has always puzzled me. I agree that radars, repeaters and other fancy numbers have a certain visual appeal and, after all, most of us have an inborn attraction to "lucky" numbers and to fancy sequences of numbers. It seems to me that there are certain fundamental similarities between searching bricks for special/fancy numbers and playing the slots at casinos trying to line up 5 lemons or strawberries or whatever other combination makes the machine pay out. However, my analogy between brick searchers and slots gamblers may not be entirely accurate as casino gamblers are always destined to lose money in the long run whereas brick searchers are always guaranteed to turn a profit!

The thrill associated with brick searching is presumably in the hunt rather than in the final acquisition. I've received several X replacements and inserts at ATM's over the last 15 or so years and I must admit that it's quite exciting rifling through a wad of Unc notes and finding serial numbers that are out of sequence. However, I haven't yet ratcheted it up to the next level, i.e. laying out $5,000 or $100,000 for a brick of 1000 $5 notes or $100 notes respectively!

casino gamblers are always destined to lose money in the long run whereas brick searchers are always guaranteed to turn a profit!

I am sure that there are many brick searchers out there that will will disagree with part of this statement. Assuming turning a profit means making money, even if you pull a radar and a repeater out of the brick and sold them, the cost of the brick and the interest/time/gas etc will out weigh that profit.
I have on more than one occassion obtained unsequential bricks WITHOUT either note in them or depending on where they were placed ,are in such bad shape they are unlikely to be of any value.
I am sure Hudson will tell you how he can afford a world cruise each and every year just from the profit he makes on searching bricks

FRIEDSQUID

And I will admit sometimes you can be lucky, but if you don't sell it, you don't make it (PROFIT)

I am sure that there are many brick searchers out there that will will disagree with part of this statement. Assuming turning a profit means making money, even if you pull a radar and a repeater out of the brick and sold them, the cost of the brick and the interest/time/gas etc. will out weigh that profit. I have on more than one occasion obtained unsequential bricks WITHOUT either note in them or depending on where they were placed, are in such bad shape they are unlikely to be of any value.

I still feel that careful brick searchers are guaranteed to turn a profit, at least in the long run. After all, they can't really lose money!  As for "interest, time and gas" I don't think too many collectors and investors think about these things when they spend time searching on eBay, subscribing to auction catalogues, attending shows, visiting local coin shops, communicating via Forums, etc. While on this subject, I recall my own fortunate acquisition of 30 or so consecutive $10 1989 ADX notes at an ATM in 1991, some of which I still have ..... 

I concede that not every brick searcher is doing it primarily because of the potential profit. However, some presumably are as I have noticed a large number of special serial number Journey notes being sold on eBay ever since the Journey series was released a few years ago.

I still feel that brick searchers are guaranteed to turn a profit, at least in the long run. After all, they can't really lose money!  As for "interest, time and gas" I don't think too many collectors and investors think about these things when they spend time searching on eBay, subscribing to auction catalogues, attending shows, visiting local coin shops, etc.

First of all I can tell you that there are no Guarantees in life (Except taxes and death). 
FRIEDSQUID

I THINK THIS IS GETTING WAY OFF THE ORIGINAL TOPIC THAT I STARTED SO I WILL CREATE A NEW THREAD SO YOU CAN SEE OTHER RESPONSES

... I am sure that there are many brick searchers out there that will will disagree with part of this statement. Assuming turning a profit means making money, even if you pull a radar and a repeater out of the brick and sold them, the cost of the brick and the interest/time/gas etc will out weigh that profit.

I have never purchased a brick but I had always assumed that the cost of a brick was equal to its face value. Do the banks levy an additional charge when supplying a brick to a customer?

posted to another thread