Specimen Notes

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

I've been searching the board but I have not come across what I was looking for. I was hoping someone here could help me. I was wondering about the BOC Specimen notes? How rare or scare are they? In particular the 1975 issue? I know they have no face value but it does complete a set and I was just wondering on price points. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

The Mulitcolour and Bird series specimen sets are not hard to come by. Several years ago, the bank of Canada sold off a bunch of these sets through Moores auction.

Today I see these sell in the $500-$1500 range depending on how many notes are in the set, and of course, the condition of the notes. I do not have my catalogue with me, so I cannot give any specific details at this time.

If you have not already done so and are getting into the hobby as you mentioned in a previous post, I would strongly recommend that you get yourself the Charlton Canadian Government Paper Money book
http://www.charltonpress.com/NumismaticsBook.asp?v_ISBN=9780889683488

Thanks for the information. I just wanted to know if they were as scarce as the 1954 series or not.
They would just complete my $50  1975 collection or do you really need them to complete this collection?


PS
The Charlton book is on its way... hopefully today or tomorrow for arrival.

They would just complete my $50  1975 collection or do you really need them to complete this collection?

I think the question is, do you feel it is needed to complete your collection?
I have always believed that a person should collect what they enjoy collecting.
It doesn't matter if it is a collection by denomination, by series, by prefix, or the hundreds of other things one can collect; it is you who should enjoy your collection and if others find it interesting, thats great.
I know many collectors who collect Specimen notes, and those that won't touch them because they do not consider them as a banknote that was meant for circulation. Either way, it should be your decision.
FRIEDSQUID

I agree 100% Friedsquid, however I am trying to fiugure out what is a good value for an individual note, printed amount, are they common or is it just as cheap to buy a comlete set? For example I can buy a $20 bird series specimen for $400.00 or the set $1-$100 for $900.00. Unfortunately my catalogue is not here yet and its driving me crazy as I have a chance to purchase these from a local person.
I also don't just want to over pay for something I may see tomorrow for a lot less. Any thoughts on the numbers released by the BOC for the multicoloured series (1969-1975) birds series and I don't know if a journey was released or not. I now the 1954 specimens are very rare and very limited.

Best regards.

bank of canada bird series
$2 761 sold cat 135
$5 752               125
$10 750              180
$20 765              180
$50 744               180
$100 751             180
$1000 37             2000

$2 - $100 set    850 set of 6
$2 -$1000 set   2750 set of 7


hope that helps
FRIEDSQUID

Thanks Friedsquid. It does really help!

bank of canada bird series
$2 761 sold cat 135
$5 762               125
$10 750              180
$20 765              180
$50 744               180
$100 751             180
$1000 37             2000

$2 - $100 set    850 set of 6
$2 -$1000 set   2750 set of 7


hope that helps
FRIEDSQUID

If these prices are from the 24th (2012) edition of Charlton's, then the price of the Birds specimens are all exactly the same as the 22nd (2010) edition, which is the latest version I have.  Although the 22nd edition says there were 752 $5 specimens issued rather than 762.

Assuming that the prices for the Multicolour specimens for the 22nd and 24th editions are the same, then the catalogue value for a $50 1975 specimen is $250.00, with 633 notes sold.  The 22nd edition price for a full specimen set from the $1 to the $100 is $1,300.00.

Sorry, you are correct 752 not 762 and these are from the 24th edition.
Thx for spotting that

FRIEDSQUID

I have never personally understood the appeal of paying a hefty price (typically $150-$200) for a modern low-denomination Specimen note when the issued note itself can be obtained for a small premium over face value. However, I can understand paying a hefty price for a Specimen of a note that is extremely rare or essentially unobtainable in issued form. Moreover, many of those Bank of Canada 1935, 1937 and 1954 Specimen notes from the 1999 Bank of Canada auction sale have been perforated with the word SPECIMEN two or three times thereby resulting in 200-500 "pin holes" in each note and, as we all know, collectors usually abhor pin holes! However, at the end of the day we are all free to collect what appeals to us personally and it is always healthy to have different collecting preferences.

While on this topic, I have often wondered whether the 1935, 1937 and 1954 specimen notes in the 1999 Bank of Canada auction sale were perforated at the original time of issue of the notes or by the Bank of Canada just prior to the 1999 auction. I suspect the latter assertion is the case but I don't know for sure(?)

Collector interest in specimens and other modern notes probably has something to do with the average person's fear of notes than have been pressed, cleaned, and/or trimmed.  The older a note is, the more likely it is to have been "tampered with".  It's unlikely that a specimen would ever be pressed...

I have never personally understood the appeal of paying a hefty price (typically $150-$200) for a modern low-denomination Specimen note when the issued note itself can be obtained for a small premium over face value. However, I can understand paying a hefty price for a Specimen of a note that is extremely rare or essentially unobtainable in issued form. Moreover, many of those Bank of Canada 1935, 1937 and 1954 Specimen notes from the 1999 Bank of Canada auction sale have been perforated with the word SPECIMEN two or three times thereby resulting in 200-500 "pin holes" in each note and, as we all know, collectors usually abhor pin holes! However, at the end of the day we are all free to collect what appeals to us personally and it is always healthy to have different collecting preferences.

While on this topic, I have often wondered whether the 1935, 1937 and 1954 specimen notes in the 1999 Bank of Canada auction sale were perforated at the original time of issue of the notes or by the Bank of Canada just prior to the 1999 auction. I suspect the latter assertion is the case but I don't know for sure(?)

I have seen a number of 1937 specimen notes with just the punched holes near the bottom of the note. They look more attractive than the ones perforated with the word "SPECIMEN" all over the note. I was told by a retailer that they  were for distribution in the UK.

I kind of like the 1935 $500 face proofs but comparing prices for them now and what they auctioned off for 5 yrs ago.  what a big diff in price. 

I have seen a number of 1937 specimen notes with just the punched holes near the bottom of the note. They look more attractive than the ones perforated with the word "SPECIMEN" all over the note. I was told by a retailer that they  were for distribution in the UK.

From one of my previous threads: http://www.cdnpapermoney.com/forum/index.php?topic=11906.0

From one of my previous threads: http://www.cdnpapermoney.com/forum/index.php?topic=11906.0

Yes I noticed this one. Good catch.

I really don't mind the perforation!

{http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9177/bc28sakn.jpg:http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9177/bc28sakn.th.jpg}