The Catalog of Test Notes

Bank note printing and cash management system firms worldwide show their expertise by printing examples or samples, usually called test notes or promotional notes.

Bank note printing firms issuing test notes now include, printers, paper suppliers, ink suppliers,central banks, and substrate (holograms, Kinegrams, stamping foils) suppliersand currency disintegrator machine manufacturers. Since many users of this catalog are primarily currency and printer test note collectors, these bank note printing firms are signified with blue font in the Table of Contents for ease of identification.

Cash management system firms issuing test notes now include ATM manufacturers, currency counters, banks and virtual banks providing ATMs, banknote readers, banknote counters, dispensing machine manufacturers,counterfeit detection equipment manufacturers, currency strappers, system integrators, ATM service firms, ATM safe manufacturers, secure electronic financial transaction providers, ATM resellers, and timed access cash controller equipment manufacturers.

The most common types are:

  • Test notes made for marketing purposes.
  • Test notes produced for large, international gatherings of currency collectors, dealers, bank note issuing authorities, and ATM manufacturers. Examples would include: International Bank Note Society annual meetings and CeBIT, Centrum der Büro- und Informationstechnik; German for "Centre of Office and Information Technology", the world's largest computer trade show.
  • Test notes made for trial runs of future use.
  • Test ATMs and other devices such as currency counters.
  • Test notes made for banking and cash handling firms to practice with new issues of notes.

Similar or related collecting interests are Souvenir Cards and Proof Cards, made by printing firms for marketing purposes and specifically for collectors. Examples of these include the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing and American Bank Note Company print cards for ANA meetings in Memphis and other locations across the United States. This group is not included here since they are not test notes for the following reasons:

  1. Printed on cardstock, not paper.
  2. Souvenir Cards have engraved "note" only part of a larger cardstock.
  3. Often say "Souvenir Card" or "Souvenir Sheet" on the card.

Catalog Format

Test note producing firms are grouped in alphabetical order in the catalog. Firms producing testnotes are absorbed, merged, spun-off, or jointly owned, much like countries producing currency. This catalog treats a company or entity as a separate group with a separate catalog numbering system.

ImagesAn effort is made to provide at least one image of each series. In some cases all notes of a series are shown, since there is little distinction between different series. A border has been added to the images to avoid the images “bleeding” into the surrounding area. Hopefully the proper dimensions of the notes will now stand out properly.

Catalog numberThis catalog uses a group of capitalized letters, dash and number. The letters are a method of abbreviation of the company. Numbering starts at 101 for the first testnote. The numbering system proceeds sequentially for a series, then starts the next single or series with the next multiple of ten, i.e. 101-108, 121-127, 131, 141-145, and so on. The specialized field of testnote collecting is still new, with limited resources and available information. This catalog numbering system allows growth of newly found varieties with existing series. The alpha portion allows testnotes to be added to existing currency collections, separating each like a country. The collector may use “testnote” in the “country” field and sort by country, then catalog number and arrive at a list of testnotes sorted by firm alphabetically within the “country” test note.

Catalog suffix letterNotes with minor variations are usually indicated by the same numbers with a small letter difference. Examples of these variations include “Specimen” overstamp, UV properties presence, small/large logo, new/old logo, date change, among others.

DescriptionWhen available, the following items are provided the collector.

AmountIf no amount is shown, common on printers’ testnotes, this reference will generally indicate so by “no”.

ColorMain colors are provided; with the largest amount first, with a slash between colors, i.e. brown/blue. If a note has a different color scheme on the reverse of the note, these will be designated with an ampersand, i.e. brown & blue. In this case the obverse is primarily brown, the reverse blue. These may be combined for multiple color themes, i.e. brown/blue & red. In this case the obverse has more brown than blue with a red reverse.

ConditionNo grades of condition are provided. It should be noted that only testnotes used to repair and maintain cash handling systems would be expected to show wear. This implies the collector should further discount the value of a “used” banknote printer’s testnote only shown for promotions than an ATM testnote used for repairs.

CurrencyUnlike paper money, many test notes do not show a unit of currency, though most show the denomination. When no unit of currency is shown on the test note, a generic “unit” is used.

DateDate or an approximate range of years of use is shown, using English or American dating, i.e. MO/DY/YEAR – January 31, 2002 is 1/31/2002.

DimensionDimensions in millimeters - width then length are provided.

Main themeWhen the provided image lacks definition, further description of theme elements is shown.

ReverseWhen the reverse image is not shown, either “reverse same” or “reverse mirror image” is shown. Reverse mirror image means as something would look like in the mirror, i.e. “100” would appear as “001” and a portrait facing right would face left.

UV“UV” after the color indicates notes that exhibit ultraviolet properties such as fluorescent inks or threads after the color theme. Many testnotes are made of paper rather than fabric, as is the case for most banknotes. Because of this, the paper itself will react to a black light. This property is indicated in this reference.

ValuationOne value in U.S. dollars for uncirculated or new condition is provided. Since production numbers for most test notes is not known, nor is the remaining stock, the average of a tally of known public sales values is used to arrive at a value. The most recent of up to seven sales are averaged to arrive at a value. As would be expected, the first sale of a new or newly found test note generally commands a higher price at auction than subsequent sales. Many test notes still have had no or little test in the market. Example: The ARCA-130 to ARCA-136 series is a recent Arca-Tech Systems series, with many sales recorded in the $1.00 to $1.75 each note range, except the ARCA-130. This note has no posted sales; indeed it was not even known to exist until a recent edition of the catalog. In general, European testnotes are more readily available there than in North America and visa versa. This is truer than currency, since only collectors will bring these items home; there is no commercial enterprise causing an exchange of test notes.

Cover Page Test Notes. The top two rows are ATM test notes. The bottom two rows are Printers’ test notes. In order from left to right, top to bottom, the test notes depicted on the cover page are:

  1. ITAU-114, GC-104
  2. GRG-101, IBE-101
  3. ABNC-121a, ATL-101
  4. BOE-101a, BELG-101

Acknowledgements

I’ve glimpsed at acknowledgement pages in numerous non-fiction works and gave the names little attention unless I recognized someone. I certainly only gave the slightest thought to how much work is involved in such an undertaking as a catalog, especially of a “new” topic not well researched. I can assure you this is not the case now!

While perhaps a dozen or so fellow test note collectors helped in one manner or another, three people put in many hours to provide information, images, and ideas necessary for this catalog.

Vsevolod Onyshkevych provided two important items – research of test note issuing firms and the catalog numbering system. I certainly would not have thought of the catalog numbering system left to my own devices and the hours of research are most appreciated. What else to expect from a Princeton man?

Jim Noll provided the bulk of the images and information on U.S. ATM test notes for the first edition, with help and encouragement ever since. Jim has his own catalog out on gaming tokens. As a fellow IBNS member and test note collector, thanks a bunch, Jim.

Henderik Siepel provided most of the images and information of European ATM test notes for the first edition from his vast collection. My thanks go to Henderik for a job well done.

Hans Verschuren, also of The Netherlands, Klaus-Dieter Grebhahn, and Glenn Morgan have helped with images and information on recent “finds” and discoveries.

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