PD, you are exactly right.
The printers will not diclose this, for it breaches security. The Bank of Canada will not disclose their position for the same reason. The replacement info must come from the printers. The BOC should have an interest in those numbers for their own security. If they do not handle it, I am sure the RCMP would be next on the list to retrive that information if the case was neccessary. I know a bit about this from my robbery in 2005, and plus recent emails from company spokespeople. Even the RCMP may be denied access. The city police were denied this information for my case. Yes, even the city police.
I asked about a certain aspect of notes, and got a very good reply. However, it was unclear if they did not HAVE the info (the printers) or if they were not allowed to speak on it. I asked about that in particular, and here is the most recent response from one of the printing companies:
"I am not in a position, nor is anyone else at
(Printing Company), to answer questions related to Bank of Canada
products. You will have to contact the Bank of Canada directly."
And of course we know that the BoC of hush on these topics.
WW, you are right about the BoC being concerned only with their order being filled. Here is a direct quote from a BoC public relations official addressing this:
In any bundle of notes, the Bank doesn't require the bank notes printers to place the serial number in consecutive order."
However, I personally believe that nothing that is this sensitive goes untracked or documented. If it was automatic, then documentation would be even easier. It could be written into a program and also be automatic. (That stuff would be WAY over my head). For example, the picture attatched is from a group of 4 bricks of $20s. I could be wrong, but from what I understand, each note is tracable from a package that leaves the BoC to a distribution center (usually in a large center). Each note could be traced though the exact delivery trucks it has gone through with these inventory numbers I would think.
Now, I don't know how the printing companies send them, but imagine if a shipment got hijacked. They would need to track the serial numbers. I believe that the printing companies probably have them on hand-- it would be in their best interest. It would also be in the best interest of Banknote security to not have those numbers released.
I guess what I am saying is I believe that they
do care about the numbers when they ship them off. It would be irresponsible ofthem to not record exact inventory. Businesses do that for bubble gum, I think they would do it for banknotes
.