I would like to propose a major research project that accepts input from anyone that wants to help out, similar to the old high-low threads this forum used to host. This is purely an idea and I want to get your reaction.
Here's the background behind the project:
We know that the multicolour series notes (dated 1969-1975) were printed 40/on with a skip interval of 500. That means 500 sheets cut into stacks created reams of 20,000 consecutively-numbered notes.
We also know that the Charlton catalogue uses the lowest and highest serial numbers known for every asterisk prefix to estimate the number of notes printed for each replacement range. Many asterisk prefixes have ranges of 400,000 notes. The assumption being made is that every serial number between the high and the low was printed and issued.
To this point in time, I am not aware that anyone has questioned the assumption being made. Reasons for this are obvious, i.e., multicolour asterisk notes are common and affordable. But 20,000 and 400,000 are two very different numbers. It's quite possible that the Bank of Canada ordered replacement notes in groups of 400,000, and if that's true, data collected will prove that. But some prefixes have even larger serial number ranges. I have done some preliminary data collection on a couple of large replacement ranges and have come up with a theory that not all serial number ranges were printed completely. In other words, some replacement ranges might actually be made up of two or more smaller ranges. Research in this area will point to the existence of smaller ranges of notes and determine with greater accuracy the actual number of notes printed for each replacement prefix.
Because multicolour asterisk notes were saved by collectors in healthy numbers, obtaining data on these notes should be relatively easy, though it may take time depending on how many people want to participate in this.
The question of how to start this research yields several possible answers. I doubt anyone would want another serial number database like the one we have for Journey and Polymer series notes. Another option would be to start separate threads for each and every replacement prefix in this forum. That way, adding data would be as easy as being a member of this forum and creating a post. A third option would be to open up the CPM wiki site to collect organized lists of notes very much like what is currently being done for registers of rarer notes. The problem with the latter idea is that not everyone has access to the wiki as a contributor, and fewer people know how to use the wiki site because of the special encoding. A combination of using this site and the wiki site would be a good idea, I think, as researchers could take data posted by members on the forum and construct the lists on the wiki site.
The benefit of this project, in addition to expanding knowledge of notes that exist, is that it could greatly increase traffic to this site, getting lots of new collectors joining, and increase the number of posts being made by forum members. Also, it would encourage people interested in this project to attend numismatic shows and bourse sales in an effort to find new notes in dealer inventories. And, lest I should feel the need to mention this, the project could inject some renewed interest in an area of the hobby that is pretty dormant at present.
So, I know it's January and everyone is busy or just plain grumpy that it's winter, but is there any interest in this project? Perhaps an endorsement from a site administrator could really get things rolling...
And lest I should feel the need to mention this, but yes, I would be willing to put in the time to organize this research.
Any suggestions?
Cheers,
Mark
