"Protective varnish" on 2006 fives?

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I spotted this interesting line in today's BOC press release:

To increase its durability, the upgraded $5 note is printed on a slightly heavier paper and is coated with a protective varnish.

This is new, right?  Those of you that have the new notes now, how to they compare to those HOWs from recent months?

THere were OODLES of notes with a protective varnish. I have a letter I sent to BOC and the DID NOT adress this issue with the HOU's and what not.  There were TONS of notes that had it, you may have found bricks that were basically "striped".   Different tone.

I will get the details on here as soon as I a finished failing the rest of my final exams.

I got some 2006 fives from Scotiabank in Vancouver today.  There definitely is some sort of coating on the face.  It is shiny and feels waxy.  It's not the same as the different paper that was seen on the HOWs and others.  The backs of the new fives are slightly shiny too, but not like the faces.

There definately is a varnish on both the front and backs of the new bills.  Unlike the old series which had a rough texture on the top right corner of the backs, this is a uniform coating.  While much more noticeable on the fronts, both sides equally repell most inks and wipe off with a damp cloth leaving little indication of previous marking.

I can see how this new feature would be very beneficial to the BOC by increasing the lifespan of the bills and deterring any graffiti.  Should this first run be a success how long before all our bills incorporate the coating?  This seems like a perfect test for a new feature like this and a better option than going Polymer I think.

While much more noticeable on the fronts, both sides equally repell most inks and wipe off with a damp cloth leaving little indication of previous marking.

Yeah, a lot of the folks at Where's Willy have noticed this and all heck is breaking loose.

http://forums.whereswilly.com/showthread.php?t=62204

Hey, all the Where's Willy people have to do is write their messages on labels, cut them down to size and stick them to the notes.

At least this new varnish on the notes might keep them in AU/UNC condition a little while longer than they would on the old paper after passing through ATMs and automatic counting machines.  I still haven't seen one of the new fives yet...but if this varnish is so resilient wouldn't it be harder to detect pressed notes (unless of course the varnish is impaired by the pressing)?

I have been carrying around a bundle of 100 in my front pants pocket for the last three days (I know there will be a joke about this). Just looked at them, the corners are still pretty sharp (Except for the outer notes.  The varnish I think wil definitly add life to these notes.  

I have been carrying around a bundle of 100 in my front pants pocket for the last three days (I know there will be a joke about this)...  

Yes, there will:

1. Let's assume that 1 of these 100 $5 notes has been marked with a reference to the "Where's Willy" site.

2. If you should meet a "Where's Willy" follower tomorrow (say at a coin show), and he asks if you've seen Willy, would you point to the bulge in your front pants pocket and say "He's right in here"?

3. If you then spend that "Where's Willy" note after it has been in the confines of your front pocket for FOUR days, would that mean you have finally "Freed Willy"?

4. Over the past three days, how many people have asked you: "Is that a roll of money in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"  

These notes are indeed more durable. I had a few in my wallet for the past few days, circulating them around, and I've noticed that the notes seem to bit hard to unravel after being in your wallet, it's very hard to flatten them as the notes are more stiff. I also took my address stamp, stamped them over a few, and was able to wipe them off easily with a tissue. I also put water on a few, simulating a water spill and the notes seem unscathed.

Darn it, it means that there won't be that many new notes being printed.   On the other hand, I won't have to see $5s that look like rags that often.

Just got a bunch of these today.
You know, I'm gonna miss those semi-reflective little 'Maple leafs' on the front and those 'Little snowflakes' on the top back of the 2005's. But they seemed a little wavy too. I'll just keep an old 2005 bill around and say to my guests. "You know kid's there used to be nice little maple leafs and snowflakes on them."

Speaking of snowflakes, it's just started snowing here. Yipee !

THere were OODLES of notes with a protective varnish. I have a letter I sent to BOC and the DID NOT adress this issue with the HOU's and what not.  There were TONS of notes that had it, you may have found bricks that were basically "striped".   Different tone.

I will get the details on here as soon as I a finished failing the rest of my final exams.

Please see my post in the infamous Test notes thread about these questionable $5s.

For those who have got the AOFs lately, does anybody notice the Protective Varnish is different from the AOK, AOL....?

AOFs appear to have a lighter shine on them both front and back, plus the Varnish on the back is not on the whole note, but only shows up in the same areas as the old series like HPA...

Any thoughts?

                                                                                                              

I can confirm that AOF 6.117M has varnish similar to HPA notes, and that AOG 9.276M has varnish similar to AOK, AOL, etc. This is based on observation of notes I have in-hand.

I have sent a request for details to the Bank, so we'll see what happens there.

Very Interesting?  

I will wait till I have samples before I comment or speculate any further...  :-?

Just received a bunch of AOFs without the protective varnish.  These notes are in the ranges of 7.6 million.  I tested one out with a handstamp and hi-liter and both adhered to the bill.  They look and feel the same as the HPAs.

These bills obviously were printed before the protective coating was perfected and were probably held back to allow the others to run their course and see how the coating held out.

I have sent a request for details [about lack of coating on AOGs] to the Bank, so we'll see what happens there.

Any update, BWJM?

Negative. I'll send a reminder email to them.

Good idea Brent, The tests I ran were inconclusive.  Of course I do not have all the neccessary scientific instruments....      

Here are some photos of the ordeal.

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Part two-      

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You know.  Huds you are the best.  I have had my hands in 60 year old dust 1800 different types of varnish from old furniture and enough grease to run a Mcd's french fryer.  All I needed was a few seconds of fun and you did it. 

I told you you cpms members are a crazy group.  Love you all.

Cheers

Polarbear

Huds your nuts! Can't wait to see you at the CNA.

WOW!!! 

I don't know what to say....

My questions is, what were the objectives of the experiment and what was learned so far from the experiments? 

I have had a chance to examine some AOF and both with and without varnish AOG's. it is very interesting to say the least.

I am just curious why they printed some without... And why wait to release the non-varnish notes? This does not happen by accident....

I think that the varnish is put in the last printing step, after the serials.  Otherwise, if this coating in impervious to the inks, it would be difficult to print on..., so in a last step, the varnish would seal the paper and all the printing.  Maybe the BABN run few millions notes before they decided to apply the varnish, for some reason, instead to begin the new serie with the varnish. 

I think to a thing:  it seems that the "changeover" from the unvarnished to varnished notes occured somewhere in the AOG prefix, it will have a sub-category in the future pricing list (Charlton's)?, involving all the AOF 2006 and a part of the AOG?

Mr. Surette,
 
This is in response to your recent e-mail requesting information on the new security features on the latest series of Canadian bank notes - the Canadian Journey series.  You also wondered whether all notes in the series are printed on heavier paper and coated with a protective varnish.
 
All denominations of bank notes in the Canadian Journey series are protected by a now-familiar set of improved security features, including a metallic holographic stripe, a watermark portrait, a windowed colour-shifting thread woven into the paper, and a see-through number.  These notes also have security features that are found on previous note issues - these include features like raised (intaglio) ink, fine line details, microprint and UV features.
 
To learn more about the security features on Canadian bank notes, visit our web site at http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/index.html.
 
When the upgraded $5 note was issued on November 15 of last year, it was printed on a slightly heavier paper and coated with a protective varnish to increase its durability and improve its quality in circulation.  No other note denominations currently feature the heavier paper and varnish.
 
I hope this information is useful.  Thank you for your interest in Canadian bank notes.
 
Jeffrey H. Abbott
Senior Analyst | Analyste Principal
Bank Note Communication and Compliance | Observation et communication sur les billets de banque
Bank of Canada | Banque du Canada

This is in response to your recent e-mail requesting information on the new security features on the latest series of Canadian bank notes - the Canadian Journey series.  You also wondered whether all notes in the series are printed on heavier paper and coated with a protective varnish.
 
All denominations of bank notes in the Canadian Journey series are protected by a now-familiar set of improved security features, including a metallic holographic stripe, a watermark portrait, a windowed colour-shifting thread woven into the paper, and a see-through number.  These notes also have security features that are found on previous note issues - these include features like raised (intaglio) ink, fine line details, microprint and UV features.
 
To learn more about the security features on Canadian bank notes, visit our web site at http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/index.html.
 
When the upgraded $5 note was issued on November 15 of last year, it was printed on a slightly heavier paper and coated with a protective varnish to increase its durability and improve its quality in circulation.  No other note denominations currently feature the heavier paper and varnish.

So, aside from hyping the security features which all of us are very well aware of, the statement about the varnish is inaccurate seeing as it does not mention that there were roughly 12,200,000 notes (AOF3.8M to AOG6.0M) issued without it.

This is VERY True.

So why would they not admit this fact or are they even aware that the printer delivered notes without the feature.

Now this comes back to my original question, why did it take almost 1/2 a year for these notes to surface? It seems very clear these notes had been withheld for some reason then when they finally decided to release them they come in a HUGE flood across the country. 

Being these notes were from the same paper as the late Non-Security did CBN Print these before handing off to BABN for the remainder of the printing /w the Varnish Application? Was the varnish not yet available during initial print runs? Was there a last minute change in the formula required so they abruptly terminated the final process until they could rectify the problem?

There is something they are not telling us....  Something like this does NOT go un-noticed as these are the first first notes to feature this heavy paper and varnish application. This would have been a VERY big undertaking.

Has anyone tried testing on the serial numbers to confirm if the varnish is protecting them as well? If they are over top of the varnish we should be able to prove it.

Here is a theory:

Step 1: Release notes with Varnish 1/2 a year in advance, check wear in Circulation
Step 2: Then release non-protected notes and wait for say another 9 months (Roughly the end of the year) and compare wear between them.

I am going to assume there were some kind of "Wear Guarantee" by the printer so this is a field test to prove this (Due to the higher cost per note must be Justified).

If Successful they may get the contract to starting other denominations in the "Varnish" with the backing of a proven track record. Most likely they are considering this for the $20 denomination next.

This is my theory too.

But I don't think that he varnish has helped much.  If anything it just makes the notes brittle, and they seem to "crack" and then tear more easily. 

I'll guess that when the new series starts to appear in 2011 that we won't be seeing paper at all anymore; it'll be polymer for our notes.

FYI
Recieved today AOG5873199-218
Fp # 68
Bp # 63
no varnish
Has anybody found #s just over 6.0 with varnish??

That is what we are waiting for.

These is a very strong feeling that the Changeover should be VERY close to the 6M Mark.

Good Find, I would consider keeping some of them until we can further determine how close they are to the X-Over.

Thanks I'll do that.

I also have an e-mail into BoC regarding the Changeover point in Paper Providers.

From reports our initial guess was a little off, it will be around 6.5M - 6.7M for the changeover.

Hi Brent,
 
As you are probably aware of, the $5 bank note changes hands more often than higher denomination notes and is therefore more prone to wear and tear. In an effort to extend the note’s durability and its current lifespan of 1 to 2 years, the Bank decided to print the upgraded $5 note using a slightly thicker paper, and to apply a varnish coating over the entire surface of the note.
 

The Bank of Canada is assessing how the substrate improvements contribute to note-life over a two year period.  To that effect, a number of $5 notes printed on both standard and heavier weight paper, and with and without varnish, have been released into circulation.   The Bank does not release information on the serial numbers involved.

 
Regards,
 
 
Sylvie Dionne
Bank Note Communication and Compliance Team
Bank of Canada
(613) 782-7959
Fax: (613) 782-7533
Toll free:  1-888-513-8212
sdionne@bankofcanada.ca

Can anyone say "interesting"?

Yes, VERY Interesting.... 

The Bank does not release information on the serial numbers involved.

This is what Sylvie sent to me today.... At least you got a little more information then I did.... 

Got three AOF's today:

AOF 6525966 fp98 bp93
AOF 7712306 fp95 bp65
AOF 7712748 fp95 bp65

None of them appear to have the varnish on them.

Yes, All of AOF is with the older German paper and then around 6.6 - 6.7 in AOG there is the changeover.

Yes, All of AOF is with the older German paper and then around 6.6 - 6.7 in AOG there is the changeover.

Oops, sorry. For some reason, I was thinking the changeover was in AOF (I blame a lack of sleep - too many night shifts in a row).