BC-38b 1954 $2 Beattie-Rasminsky - F/R Prefix - TEST NOTE ???

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In reviewing the lots in the upcoming July 2007 CNA Auction, I came across the following lot:

Lot 684: BC-38b 1954 $2 Beattie-Rasminski F/R6461016 Original choice uncirculated. Believed to be a very rare prefix. Possibly a TEST NOTE.

Start Price: CAD $250
Estimate: CAD $500 - $1,000


I would be interested in knowing if anyone has heard any discussions about the F/R prefix being a possible
test note or is this just hype on the part of the dealer conducting the auction ?

...Arthur

I received this email today from a respected paper money collector, in reference to my posting:

I saw your post about the F/R prefix $2 being presented in auction as a possible test note.
 
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to look at notes in the Bank of Canada vault in Ottawa.  I asked to see their S/R test notes.  It was interesting to see they had reported that 36 tests had been done before moving on to the multi-colour series.  More interesting was that the first S/R test was #5.  My question about the earlier four tests could not (would not) be answered.  I knew about the G/R's back then and when it became public knowledge, there seemed to be four tests.  End of story?  Then the G/R's were refined to three tests which created a missing test.  As you know, recently the E/R test surfaced and I concluded that this was the missing test.
 
Therefore I do not think F/R or any other $2's will be uncovered as test notes.
 
This is my hypothesis only.

From the CNA auction. F/R6461016. They say: "Believed to be a very rare prefix. Possibly a TEST NOTE."  Starting bid $250. Estimate $500-$1000.

Has anyone heard of an F/R testnotes or are they just speculating based on E/R and G/R findings?  I got my F/R just a couple months ago for only $15 or so... It can't be that rare!

Also another listing caught my attention:  "BC-37d 1954 $1 "Crossover" V/F9140281 Choice Unc. Believed to be very scarce and underrated in book value." Estimate $150-$200.  I've seen a bunch of these sold over the last year or so, all around $75 - $90.

Am I missing something or were they just smoking too many old Dominion notes down there...?

-- Al

After reading Believed and Possibly in the item description I just moved on..

I saw your post about the F/R prefix $2 being presented in auction as a possible test note.
 
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to look at notes in the Bank of Canada vault in Ottawa.  I asked to see their S/R test notes.  It was interesting to see they had reported that 36 tests had been done before moving on to the multi-colour series.  More interesting was that the first S/R test was #5.  My question about the earlier four tests could not (would not) be answered.  I knew about the G/R's back then and when it became public knowledge, there seemed to be four tests.  End of story?  Then the G/R's were refined to three tests which created a missing test.  As you know, recently the E/R test surfaced and I concluded that this was the missing test.
 
Therefore I do not think F/R or any other $2's will be uncovered as test notes.
 
This is my hypothesis only.

This math works if we count the three ranges of G/R test notes as three separate tests.  Is there any evidence to support this?  I would wonder if the three ranges of G/R test notes were in fact one test, which would leave two missing tests.