AXA Litho VS Steel Engr.

News: Registration is free here at the CPMF!

Does anyone know the changeover point between AXA Steel Engraved and the AXA Lithographed back?  How can you tell the difference?
It turns out AXA was printed on both varieties

I have one of each.  The steel engraved note is AXA 0168911 and the Litho'ed note is AXA 1064055.

I had heard from a knowledgeable source that there was some questionable documentation that suggested that that a run of 200,000 notes  AXA0700000 - 0899999 were printed with intaglio backs, and that a run of    200,000 notes  AXA0900000 - 1099999 were printed with lithographed backs.   You will note in the catalogue that the estimated run of AXA notes was 400,000 even though the range of serial numbers in the catalogue is 0001082 to 1305299 which is a lot more than 400,000 notes so there must have been large gaps in the ranges.  The above ranges might suggest a changeover point of 0900000,  but there is something amiss with the numbers.  If there was truly a range of 400,000 notes from 0700000 to 1099999 evenly split between steel and litho with a change over of 0900000 then how does my note AXA 0168911 fit into the picture?  So the conclusion is that the above information suggesting two ranges of 200,000 notes each may be flawed.  It would probably be best for collectors owning AXA test notes to report the serial numbers along with their observation whether the note has a intaglio or litho'ed back and we could eventually establish the probable changeover point.

I have started a wiki page for this purpose.... so please submit your serial numbers.
BC-46aT-i 1973 AXA $1 Test Notes

I have AXA 0782065 VF Condition. With the above information then, it looks like mine is a steel engraved AXA. But its really hard to tell by looking at it. I Have an example of both EAX/AAX steel + Litho and i don't see any differences, i can only tell by the number, thanks to the established ranges.


===added to wiki===

Another interesting point is already evident from the three notes on wiki:

AXA  0168911  Steel 239/235
AXA  0818723  Steel 69/82
 
AXA   1064055  Litho 72/95

That there is also a changeover from Plate numbers to Position numbers in this run.

JB-2007 could you tell me your plate/position numbers?

i have:

1) AXA0000109  EF     239/235
2) AXA0603610  UNC  239/256


===added to wiki===

JB-2007 could you tell me your plate/position numbers?

FP #63, BP #74
Hope this helps

Don't know which mine are, but have:
          AXA0505370  F239  b256
          AXA0505371    238  235
     both are Unc

Don't know which mine are, but have:
          AXA0505370  F239  b256
          AXA0505371    238  235
     both are Unc

should be steel engraved.

You can tell the difference because steel engraved will feel like intaglio printing like most of the face on a Birds series note. Lithographed will be smooth. Unless you don't know because it's in a Safety Deposit Box.

Its hard to tell when the notes are not in good condition, if its UNC no problem but if its VF its a bit harder to tell.

can someone please explain how to tell a litho'd back from an engraved one?

Use this thing on the edge of your finger. Scratch it gently and you should be able to feel the intaglio printing. If you damage it, well, I did say gently.

If the back is engraved, you will be able to feel the intaglio on the back. If it is lithographed, then you will only be able to feel the embossing on the front.

What does Steel and Litho mean?

Thanks

Check your copy of the Charlton guide. There is an explanation of engraved and lithographed printing in the introduction, and a short writeup at the beginning of the Multicoloured Series section as well that should answer your question. Cheers!

Thanks. Do you know what pages its on?