Why is it so hard to obtain certain test notes? Do they destroy them?
Yes. When a test note is determined to be non-reissuable (worn) it is segregated and returned to the Currency division where the data is collected on the note's lifespan in circulation and then like all other worn notes are destroyed.
But all the $2 S/R and RS are still widely available and as well as the AXA and EXA test notes.
The $2 S/R's make a interesting case study for the phenomena of value based upon supply & demand vs numbers printed.
There were 2.3 million Beattie Rasminsky S/R notes printed, but only 360,000 Bouey Rasminsky and 240,000 Lawson Bouey S/R notes printed. When the initial run of Beattie Rasminsky Notes were released, they followed in the normal sequence of the R series (P/R, R/R, S/R, T/R) and only astute collectors may have noticed it was a short run without knowing why. When the Bouey Rasminsky S/R notes were released the regular run had progressed all the way through the U series and on to the early G series when these S/R notes made their appearance sticking out somewhat like a sore thumb to collectors, and similarly when the Lawson Bouey S/R's showed up later. The result was that collectors stashed away relatively more Bouey Rasminsky and Lawson Bouey S/R in upper grades than the Beattie Rasminsky S/R notes. As an aside I noticed by observing the Beattie Rasminsky S/R population seen at shows and on eBay it is less common to see notes with serial number <2000000 in top grades, while the majority of the top grade Beattie Rasminsky S/R's are between 2000000 and 2300000. Although prices in the Charlton catalogue have over the years trended upwards. the Beattie Rasminsky S/R notes were priced at $1900 in Unc in the 12th and 13th edition before drifting down to the current $1000 in the 19th edition. This was likely due to the appearance on the market of some notes that had been put away.
So the point I am trying to make in this discussion is that the G/R E/R and 3300 tests were not detected so readily by the collecting public and less of these notes were stashed away in any grade.
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