CPM Forum
Canadian Notes => Polymer Series => Topic started by: AZ on July 10, 2019, 07:43:11 pm
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When reporting new prefixes, especially those that extend known prefix ranges, let’s post images of notes in this thread. This way we will know for sure that the new prefix exists and is not an entry error. In the past, some of the users of SNDB never bothered reporting their errors and they stayed in the database for years. Here is $10 FFC.
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Agreed. New prefixes are certainly worth making a forum post! We are also working on some better ways of checking for errors in the SNDB section.
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I had tried to post the pic when I first found the FFC note on June 23 but when I added it to SNDB the pic never showed up. Darn technology lol.
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Admin, please enable the database to accept $20 FZ* notes. Prefixes FZB, FZE and FZN have been reported. Here is an FZB note.
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I picked up a few $100 GJY notes today. These are from a new print run as they have the same varnish pattern as $5 HCV or some of $20 FZ* prefixes.
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Please re=enter any new $20 in the FZ* series as the admin has added them to the DB.
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Just got a couple of 5$ notes with prefix IND, a pleasant surprise during these times!
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Just got a couple of 5$ notes with prefix IND, a pleasant surprise during these times!
Nice find! So after HN*, HO*, HP*, HA*, HB* and HC* we will be seeing IN*, IO*, IP*, IA*, IB* and IC*, which makes sense.
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The note has been added to the DB
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Just got a couple of 5$ notes with prefix IND, a pleasant surprise during these times!
You can now add these prefixes to the database as the admin has added them.
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Pulled some cash out of the ATM at TD today and got some new GMB prefix. What I found interesting is the extra frosting around the hologram area. See attached for a comparison.
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Pulled some cash out of the ATM at TD today and got some new GMB prefix. What I found interesting is the extra frosting around the hologram area. See attached for a comparison.
Good find! GMB notes are from a new print run, with the same varnish pattern as $5 HCV-HCZ and INA-IND, $20 FZN and $100 GJY.
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Agreed. New prefixes are certainly worth making a forum post! We are also working on some better ways of checking for errors in the SNDB section.
Admin, pls enable IND 0069996 07 07 have a few of them, database wont accept, thank you
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Very surprising that we're seeing printer letter I now, despite that many retailers refuse to accept cash during these difficult times. I guess it's safe to say that denominational letter G will be recycled on the $10 bill, once the FF* series runs its course.
One user (whose name is not mentioned), many years ago, did claim that denominational letter G would be on tbe ten. It turns out he will have been right, most likely, and this could imply he may have inside information or connections with the Bank of Canada.
The introduction of printer letter I on the five will be the first new printer letter for the five in nearly two decades. If not for printer letter A prefixes sporadically released from 2002 to 2009, we probably would have seen the printer letter I ages ago.
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$50 GME found in Toronto.
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Nab this one a place holder
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Found the first $20 FZA. Funny that it’s a repeater. FZA5535535 email with pic sent
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Thanks for posting new prefixes here, everyone! Here is $100 GJZ.
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$100 GKA found today.
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Interestingly enough, in the many months Canada has seen the new wave of fresh banknotes with the protective varnish coating, all of the denominations are covered except the ten. I wonder if overall demand for $10 bills has fallen so much (thanks to inflation), most of the remaining banks rhat ordered them finally discontinued ordering them?
I bet it will be quite a while before Atlantic Canada sees any of these new banknotes due to its tough economy they've had fpr years, and COVID-19 will really cause a big setback for many. I don't even know if the release of the new $5 bill could be pushed back to 2022 or so.
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Here's a new prefix GMR and new signature, it does not look like Rogers, but probably is.
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Can't make out the first signature but why would it be Rogers if she doesn't officially take on the 2nd in command position until mid December?
Her appointment was only recently announced. Too soon to appear on a banknote I think,
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Rag
Dont know! thats why i wrote looks like Rogers, that was a guess, cant read either,
i also was thinking december. open eyes needed, anybody!
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https://www.bankofcanada.ca/profile/timothy-lane/
** Chair of Senior Management Council
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That's what I thought ...
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https://www.bankofcanada.ca/profile/timothy-lane/
** Chair of Senior Management Council
Changeover information from the BoC:
The last printed Wilkins-Macklem $50 was GMN6119999.
The first printed Lane-Macklem $50 was GMN6120000.
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Well RBC in Brantford was loaded with the INF series notes, so all the IN* notes are out now up to INK now. Can someone get a hold of the admin to update the main menu and move the IN notes to the new signatures and there is some in the other denominations also. I have sent messages but to no avail is the admin .
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Well RBC in Brantford was loaded with the INF series notes, so all the IN* notes are out now up to INK now. Can someone get a hold of the admin to update the main menu and move the IN notes to the new signatures and there is some in the other denominations also. I have sent messages but to no avail is the admin .
I too asked the admin to add the $5 IND and $50 GMN changeovers. The $10 FFE changeover can be added as well, based on the Charlton catalog information.
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Lane-Macklem $100 GKP reported in Toronto (found on eBay).
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Lane-Macklem $100 GKP reported in Toronto (found on eBay).
From the BoC: The last Wilkins-Poloz $100 note is GKL 8999999 and the first Lane-Macklem $100 note is GKL 9000000
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Got this from the TD ATM today
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Here’s a post from the Bank of Canada Museum regarding Timothy Lane. Seems it will only be in the $50s and $100 notes.
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Makes sense, since the $50s and $100s are continually on the rise. The absence of new notes for the three smallest denominations with the Lane/Macklem signature combo, implies that demand for those three denominations is likely in decline. It's possible that the number of $10 bills being actively spent nationwide is likely cut in half or greater. The $10 bill will likely still be around for at least a few more years, but it will probably become scarce like the U.S. $2 bill in some places (Atlantic Canada, in particular).
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Makes sense, since the $50s and $100s are continually on the rise. The absence of new notes for the three smallest denominations with the Lane/Macklem signature combo, implies that demand for those three denominations is likely in decline. It's possible that the number of $10 bills being actively spent nationwide is likely cut in half or greater. The $10 bill will likely still be around for at least a few more years, but it will probably become scarce like the U.S. $2 bill in some places (Atlantic Canada, in particular).
The 50s and 100s are on the rise due to rising inflation and the rampant Covid related government spending. The lower denominations are not in decline, they are being used as much as before. The 10s, being the “middle” denomination between the more commonly used 5s and 20s, have always been the least used. They are not going anywhere though, despite what you have been suggesting all the time here.
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"Lane-Macklem" has been seen on the $5.00 INR prefix & apparently changes at INK prefix (though none reported yet).
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SNDB has been updated to reflect the INK prefix changeover.
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SNDB has been updated to reflect the INK prefix changeover.
-Thanks! :)
EDIT:
Appears as if the high end of IND Wilkins-Macklem is now missing from the SNDB "Wilkins-Macklem" chart for the $5.00:
https://cdnpapermoney.com/index.php?action=sndb;area=hl;c=20135wmc (https://cdnpapermoney.com/index.php?action=sndb;area=hl;c=20135wmc)
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Still missing the IND ]Wilkins-Macklem $5(above 8981999) change-over chart in the recently revised SNDB.
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I received from the Royal Bank in Carleton Place, Ontario on October 8, 2022, a new prefix of HJA for the polymer $100 banknote. It appears that $100 banknote is becoming very popular these days.
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Was the HJA prefix the newest signatures (post-Lane/Macklem)? I haven't been keeping up with the latest prefixes because the branch I normally went to has a troublesome panhandler who appears to be aggressive, and I am very afraid to visit that branch these days.
I agree, the $100 bill has been quite abundant for many years now. Back in the 1980s, $100 bills (and $50 bills) were few and far between (back then, probably to the same extent as the $10 bill today) - there were many occurrences where I would go to the bank just after it opens, and the tellers told me they did not have any $100 bills in their tills. Because of inflation in the last 15 to 20 years (and even more this year), $100 bills are quite easy to come by. Banks probably order far more of them nowadays than 15 to 20 years ago.
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Since all of the $5 IN_ prefix is all used now. I wonder what is the next prefix for the 5 dollar bill, I would like to hear your thoughts about it.
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Since all of the $5 IN_ prefix is all used now. I wonder what is the next prefix for the 5 dollar bill, I would like to hear your thoughts about it.
IOA-IOZ, followed by IPA-IPZ
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Hi, just wondering when the database will be updated to show the new signature combinations? Pm if I can help out.
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Hi, just wondering when the database will be updated to show the new signature combinations? Pm if I can help out.
$100 Rogers-Macklem are currently being issued but we don't know where the changeover occur so I believe the SNDB will be updated to show the new signature once we know when the change will occur
I don't know if a Rogers-Macklem $50 has been issued yet but eventually it will be released
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$100 Rogers-Macklem are currently being issued but we don't know where the changeover occur
The changeover for $100 is as follows:
Last L/M note: HJH 1979999
First R/M note: HJH 1980000
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I don't know if a Rogers-Macklem $50 has been issued yet but eventually it will be released
Not yet. Latest prefix is HHA and they are Lane-Macklem signature.
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Lane-Macklem $20 FZY spotted on the Bank of Canada Instagram account
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I found some $100 bills with the Rogers/Macklem signature; the prefix is HJW.
J'ai trouvé des billets de 100$ avec la signature de Rogers/Macklem, le préfixe est HJW.
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I just found some Rogers-Macklem $5 notes with the IOB prefix and couldn’t add them to the SNDB :P
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Thanks! Both IOA and IOB have been found by now. The database needs to be configured to include prefixes IOA-IOZ. Hopefully the Admin will do that soon.
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Thanks! Both IOA and IOB have been found by now. The database needs to be configured to include prefixes IOA-IOZ. Hopefully the Admin will do that soon.
I just sent a email to the webmaster of this website to add the IOA-IOZ prefixes. Hopefully they see my email and add it. I wasn't expecting the IOA-IOZ prefixes to release that fast after releasing all of the INS-INZ Rogers-Macklem notes.
Update: Received a email from the webmaster informing me that they will try to add it this week.
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I wish they would add the Rogers-Macklem $100s, which began with HJH1980001. Those notes are in the SNDB, but showing up under Lane-Macklem.
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I wish they would add the Rogers-Macklem $100s, which began with HJH1980001. Those notes are in the SNDB, but showing up under Lane-Macklem.
I asked the Admin twice about this…
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Working on it right now.
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Added IOA-IOZ and changed HJH-HJZ to Rogers-Macklem.
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Added IOA-IOZ and changed HJH-HJZ to Rogers-Macklem.
Thank You Admin, now I see the new prefixes on the SNDB. Now people can enter IOA-IOZ prefixes and will be doing that when I get my first IOA-IOZ prefixes in my city.
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Thank you admin!
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I just received 4 notes from my ATM in the GTA. Just added IOB9167698 to 9167701 today (no scanner so you're going to have to take my word for it). ;D
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The IO series seems to be the second batch of Rogers/Macklem $5 notes printed, and I still have yet to see a new $5 note between INT and INZ. I have a strange feeling there are not a lot of INS-INZ prefixes left. It is believed that the entire INT and INU prefixes are fully depleted, so chances are the INV through INZ runs may be exhausted or close to it.
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Received this IOB prefix in a cash transaction yesterday. Submitted it in the SNDB with scan
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Thanks for your submission with image. I've verified your entry.
Also, your signature BB code seems to be missing the slash ( / ) from the closing img tag.
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You know, I kind of wonder why there have been no new $50s printed for some years now. Could it be possible that all of the existing pre-Polymer $50 notes are fully replaced, or getting close to it? If memory serves correctly, I still do see Polymer $50s in the AH* and AM* series from time to time.
Regarding the $100s, given I have seen GKW in the 5 million range twice in my hometown this year, and the possibility that GKY in the 3M range may have appeared in my province last summer or early this fall (if I get another GKY in that range, it will likely have made it to NL), we are quite close to the HJ* series and we may start seeing them in 2026, likely in the spring - but there will be a limited number of prefixes, probably limited to the last two reported L/M prefixes, HJB and HJD. I have a feeling the vast majority of HJA, HJC, HJE and HJF are fully depleted, and HJG may also be a candidate for NL banks since there is still a very narrow range reported to this day.
Newfoundland banks seem to be struggling to deplete the Wilkins/Poloz signatures, but once the W/P notes are depleted, banks are probably not going to order as many new banknotes anymore. Yes, we will see new prefixes, but likely just one per year - per denomination.
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It turns out that I got a fresh L/M $100 from the ATM today, and it was HJC in the 5 million range. If I see another HJC in the same range, it's strongly probable that the HJ* series may finally have arrived to my province.
Also I got two fresh $10s from the same ATM and they were FFH in the 5 million range, from the previous signature combo. It may be an indicator that the branch may be trying to release the $10 notes that were sitting in the vault for years, and it may strengthen the likelihood that $10 bills are now in the process of replacing the oldest $5s in Newfoundland circulation, as demand for $10 notes may be rebounding after three decades of lackluster demand.
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In the Ottawa Valley today, I received 5 HJM's and 1 HJF $100's while conducting farm business and I have yet to report these to the database. I do realize that Newfoundland will not get the amount of banknotes which are available in Ontario. But, I am so disappointed with the circulating $5 banknotes where I am still seeing plenty of the HBx series of prefixes which are so worn that the ATM's will not accept these banknotes in a deposit. This is frustrating. I do see a lot of INT through INZ but I wish the Banks send back the horrible HBx prefixes where the clear polymer substrate is clearly visible from the removed printing ink. This way, we would see more IOx's series of prefixes across the country.
My thoughts, Whitenite
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I rarely see any HB* prefixes in St. John's now - but it's possible the oldest $5s are being replaced, but with $10 notes instead of $5 notes due to inflation. The really old $5 notes may likely have to be deposited through commercial banking, or over the counter transactions. I also wonder if the banks are not ordering any new $5 bills due to the potential of closing down branches in the coming years, and banks in Newfoundland are likely not ordering any new $5 bills until the closures are completed? Or could demand for $5 notes be in decline in my province, and the banks may be sending back the worn out $5s and writing them off due to overall lack of demand for cash now? Or, could demand for toonies have leveled off after years of decline, and there is no need to replace any toonies with $5 bills now in my province?
It's also possible that the only $5 bills that will be replaced will probably be the most recent new prefixes when they are due to be replaced in some years time. $5 bills are absolutely needed in order for cashiers to provide change - stores cannot afford to order $2 coins since they have to be ordered by the roll (costing $50).
I feel as if the Scotiabank ATMs now dispense $10 bills because the vast majority of $5 bills are worn out and unfit for ATMs, and also I suspect that demand for $5 bills has fallen in recent years, and demand for $10 bills may be on the rebound now due to inflation. As time goes by, there may be fewer and fewer $5 notes and the number of $10 bills may end up at levels not seen since the 1980s. For now, there are still plenty of $5 notes in circulation, if they're the same ones juggling around for many, many years.
I wonder if high cost to order new $5 notes is preventing the newest $5 notes from appearing in my province?
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I rarely see any HB* prefixes in St. John's now - but it's possible the oldest $5s are being replaced, but with $10 notes instead of $5 notes due to inflation. The really old $5 notes may likely have to be deposited through commercial banking, or over the counter transactions. I also wonder if the banks are not ordering any new $5 bills due to the potential of closing down branches in the coming years, and banks in Newfoundland are likely not ordering any new $5 bills until the closures are completed? Or could demand for $5 notes be in decline in my province, and the banks may be sending back the worn out $5s and writing them off due to overall lack of demand for cash now? Or, could demand for toonies have leveled off after years of decline, and there is no need to replace any toonies with $5 bills now in my province?
It's also possible that the only $5 bills that will be replaced will probably be the most recent new prefixes when they are due to be replaced in some years time. $5 bills are absolutely needed in order for cashiers to provide change - stores cannot afford to order $2 coins since they have to be ordered by the roll (costing $50).
I feel as if the Scotiabank ATMs now dispense $10 bills because the vast majority of $5 bills are worn out and unfit for ATMs, and also I suspect that demand for $5 bills has fallen in recent years, and demand for $10 bills may be on the rebound now due to inflation. As time goes by, there may be fewer and fewer $5 notes and the number of $10 bills may end up at levels not seen since the 1980s. For now, there are still plenty of $5 notes in circulation, if they're the same ones juggling around for many, many years.
I wonder if high cost to order new $5 notes is preventing the newest $5 notes from appearing in my province?
Where I live (Toronto, ON). I'm starting to see less HB* prefixes in my area and I mostly see IN* prefixes in my area now and occasionally I see HC* prefixes. Recently IOB prefixes have been popping up in Toronto and I found 2, entered it in the database so there's 8 reported IOB prefixes in the SNDB. I bank with Scotiabank and I saw that they swapped out the $5s slots in favors of $10s in all Scotiabank ATM. Not a big fan of this as I prefer $5s but I don't care much.
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Well, where I live I see (slightly) more HC* prefixes than IN* prefixes. As much as I like $10 bills, I would hate to see most of the $5 bills replaced with $10s as my interest in $5s has grown greatly since the launch of printer letter I, and the IO* series is where it gets even better.
And just for the record, I did notice an INR entered into the SNDB by someone in Newfoundland that is in the mid-1 million range. Plus, I did see two, maybe three INRs in that range in my change in the last many months. I am thinking we are stuck on the L/M prefixes in Newfoundland (but I see far more W/P and W/M varieties combined than L/M), and it could be possible that the newer bills are only being released in very, very tiny quantities at a time (cost to order them may have increased), but still no fresh R/M $5s where I live to this day. I am thinking it's more a case of banks wanting to focus more on the higher denominations and less on the $5s.
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I rarely see any HB* prefixes in St. John's now - but it's possible the oldest $5s are being replaced, but with $10 notes instead of $5 notes due to inflation. The really old $5 notes may likely have to be deposited through commercial banking, or over the counter transactions. I also wonder if the banks are not ordering any new $5 bills due to the potential of closing down branches in the coming years, and banks in Newfoundland are likely not ordering any new $5 bills until the closures are completed? Or could demand for $5 notes be in decline in my province, and the banks may be sending back the worn out $5s and writing them off due to overall lack of demand for cash now? Or, could demand for toonies have leveled off after years of decline, and there is no need to replace any toonies with $5 bills now in my province?
It's also possible that the only $5 bills that will be replaced will probably be the most recent new prefixes when they are due to be replaced in some years time. $5 bills are absolutely needed in order for cashiers to provide change - stores cannot afford to order $2 coins since they have to be ordered by the roll (costing $50).
I feel as if the Scotiabank ATMs now dispense $10 bills because the vast majority of $5 bills are worn out and unfit for ATMs, and also I suspect that demand for $5 bills has fallen in recent years, and demand for $10 bills may be on the rebound now due to inflation. As time goes by, there may be fewer and fewer $5 notes and the number of $10 bills may end up at levels not seen since the 1980s. For now, there are still plenty of $5 notes in circulation, if they're the same ones juggling around for many, many years.
I wonder if high cost to order new $5 notes is preventing the newest $5 notes from appearing in my province?
The Bank of Canada distributes new notes if the population demands it. Large population centres get more cash deliveries because there are more people who use it. Smaller communities don't go through cash nearly as quickly as large cities do.
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The Bank of Canada distributes new notes if the population demands it. Large population centres get more cash deliveries because there are more people who use it. Smaller communities don't go through cash nearly as quickly as large cities do.
To be clearer: Here is an AI generated logistics of what happens to a Banknote from printing to reaching the hand's of a customer ....
Here is the step-by-step logistics chain for how a newly issued Canadian bank note travels from the printing press to a customer’s hand. This process is well-established and does not require time-sensitive data.
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🇨🇦 Lifecycle of a Newly Issued Canadian Bank Note
From CBNC → Bank of Canada → Distribution Network → Bank Branch → Customer
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1. Printing at Canadian Bank Note Company (CBNC)
• CBNC manufactures polymer sheets, prints security features, applies holograms, raises ink, etc.
• Notes are cut, quality-checked, counted, and shrink-wrapped into bundles (typically: 1,000 notes per bundle, 10 bundles per brick).
• Each brick is bar-coded and registered to maintain traceability.
________________________________________
2. Secure Transport to the Bank of Canada (BoC) – Currency Operations
• CBNC ships finished notes via armoured transport under strict security.
• Notes do not enter circulation yet—they go to the Bank of Canada’s secured currency facility.
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3. Receipt and Verification by the Bank of Canada
At the BoC currency operations centre, the following occur:
1. Authentication of batches against production records
2. Random destructive testing (durability, security feature validation)
3. Inventory entry into the national currency stock
4. Storage in high-security vaults until requested by financial institutions
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4. Requests from Financial Institutions (Banks & Credit Unions)
Banks do not print money; they order it from the BoC.
A bank submits:
• Quantity needed (based on projected cash demand)
• Denominations needed
• Delivery location (usually a cash distribution centre)
The BoC approves and schedules deliveries.
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5. Armoured-Car Delivery to Bank Cash Distribution Centres
The Bank of Canada releases notes to contracted armoured-car companies.
Notes are delivered to:
• Cash processing centres owned by large banks
• Regional armoured-car vaults that serve many institutions
These centres manage:
• Sorting
• Storing
• Re-bundling for shipments to individual branches or ATMs
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6. Sorting, Handling & Deployment to Branches (or ATMs)
Cash centres prepare shipments for each branch based on:
• Typical weekly demand
• Expected seasonal spikes (holidays, paydays)
• Large business customer requests
Bundles/bricks are sealed and logged.
Armoured trucks deliver these sealed packages to bank branches.
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7. Bank Branch Receives Cash Shipment
At the branch:
• Deliveries are logged into the branch’s cash inventory system
• Notes are placed directly into vaults or ATM cassettes
• Tellers withdraw bundles to stock their tills as needed
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8. Customer Receives the Bank Note
This can happen in two main ways:
A. From a Teller
1. Customer withdraws cash
2. Teller authenticates the notes (visually & by touch)
3. Teller hands the customer newly issued notes
B. From an ATM
1. ATM is loaded with cassettes containing new notes
2. Customer makes withdrawal
3. ATM dispenses notes directly into the customer’s hands
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End Result: The Note Enters Active Circulation
The bank note is now part of the circulating currency pool and will:
• Move between consumers, stores, and banks
• Eventually return to a branch or cash centre
• Be checked for fitness
• And ultimately be destroyed by the Bank of Canada when no longer suitable for use
And to go further ....
🇨🇦 Why Eastern Provinces See Fewer Newly Issued Bank Notes
1. Cash demand is much higher in central and western Canada
The Bank of Canada distributes new banknotes according to demand.
Most cash volume moves through:
Ontario (largest population, biggest economy)
Quebec
Alberta & British Columbia (high business cash turnover)
Because these regions withdraw and return much larger quantities of cash, they exhaust their stock of older notes more quickly, prompting:
More frequent shipments
More frequent introduction of new notes
Atlantic provinces have lower total cash demand, so older notes remain in circulation for longer before banks need new stock.
2. Banks prioritize “fit notes” over “brand new notes”
Banks aren’t required to give out fresh-from-the-mint notes.
Their criteria are:
Is the note authentic?
Is it fit for circulation?
Atlantic Canada returns fewer notes overall to cash-processing centres, so:
Notes remain in acceptable condition for longer
There is less need to supply “fresh bricks” of new bills
Cash centres continue recirculating older notes
3. Fewer cash distribution centres in the East
Major cash distribution hubs are concentrated in:
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Calgary
The eastern provinces rely on fewer, smaller vaults.
This creates effects such as:
Larger batch sizes
Less frequent restocking
Longer cycles before inventory turnover
By the time new notes are pushed out from central inventory, most go to regions with faster turnover first. The East receives them last.
4. Less ATM and retail cash turnover
ATMs and retail businesses in Atlantic Canada generally:
Handle smaller volumes
Refill ATMs less frequently
Deposit less worn cash to be destroyed
Circulate notes for longer periods
Because ATMs in the East often use recycled fit notes, they don’t need a fresh supply as often.
5. Geography + logistics = slower cycling of notes
Transport routes from the BoC’s primary cash facilities run:
Central Canada → West
Central Canada → Atlantic
But because the Atlantic region accounts for a small percentage of total Canadian banknote flow, distribution cycles are longer, and it takes time for newly issued series to diffuse across lower-volume routes.
In short:
Eastern provinces don’t see new Canadian banknotes as often because:
✔ Lower cash demand
✔ Fewer notes being withdrawn from circulation
✔ Fewer (and smaller) cash-processing centres
✔ Longer logistical cycles
✔ Strong reliance on recirculated “fit” notes rather than new notes
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And since my first post was so long .... adds this in my last ...
1️⃣ How the Bank of Canada Allocates New Notes Geographically
The Bank of Canada does not “send new notes evenly” across the country.
Instead, allocation is based on demand patterns reported by commercial banks, which depends on:
A. Cash demand volume
Regions with higher withdrawal needs (Ontario, Quebec, BC, Alberta) get:
More shipments
More frequent orders
Faster depletion of existing stock
Because these regions “burn through” their inventory faster, they receive new notes more often.
B. Fitness levels of notes returned from circulation
Commercial banks send worn notes to cash processing centres.
If a region returns more unfit notes, the Bank of Canada must replace them with new ones.
Atlantic Canada returns:
Fewer notes
Less worn notes
Smaller total volumes
→ Therefore, fewer replacements = fewer new notes shipped.
C. Inventory turnover at regional cash centres
Large centres (Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver) turn inventory over quickly.
Smaller centres in the East hold inventory much longer before needing fresh bricks of notes.
2️⃣ How Often Cash Rotation (Note Replacement) Happens Across Regions
The frequency that old notes are replaced by new ones depends on how fast notes cycle in and out of the banking system.
High-rotation regions
Ontario, Quebec, BC, Alberta
Constant ATM loading and unloading
Large retail cash volume
Frequent deposits of worn notes
Notes cycle quickly and get replaced often
= Many new notes released each year
Medium-rotation regions
Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Moderate ATM and retail use
Occasional large cash inflows (events, agriculture seasons)
= New notes appear, but not constantly
Low-rotation regions
Atlantic provinces: NS, NB, PEI, NL
Lower cash usage per capita
ATMs often refill with “fit” notes instead of new ones
Smaller, less frequent shipments
Old notes linger in circulation for long periods
= New notes appear very gradually
In extreme cases, a new series might be common in Toronto within weeks
but takes months to a few years to become common in the East.
3️⃣ Why Certain Denominations Reach the East Slower (especially $50 and $100)
This effect is strongest for the higher-value denominations.
A. Higher denominations circulate less overall
$50 and $100 bills move slowly because:
Fewer retail transactions use them
ATMs in many regions don’t dispense $50s
Consumers deposit them back into banks quickly
When circulation is slow, East Coast branches don’t need replacements often.
B. Atlantic ATMs dispense mostly $20s
The $20 is the backbone of Canadian ATM networks.
In many Atlantic provinces:
ATMs dispense only $20s or a mix of $20s and $5s
They rarely require new $50/$100 stock
So, new high-value notes simply aren’t ordered as frequently.
C. Business cash usage is different
Western Canada and the GTA have:
Higher cash turnover
More cash-heavy businesses
Casinos, tourist hubs, and large retail operations that move high denominations
Atlantic provinces have fewer large-volume cash businesses.
Because $50s and $100s cycle slower, new series enter the East last.
D. Smaller vaults = slower inventory cycling
If a vault in Halifax or St. John’s receives a pallet containing $100s, it might not open a fresh pallet for months—meaning older inventory is issued first.
Larger vaults in Montreal or Toronto go through pallets much faster.
✅ Summary
Why new notes appear later in the East:
Lower cash demand
Smaller distribution centres
Less frequent shipments
Lower circulation speed
Higher denominations rarely needed
ATMs recycle existing notes rather than requesting new ones
All of this results in Atlantic Canada naturally seeing fewer newly-printed banknotes, especially early in a series release.
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This is a great summary (thanks!)
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Hey All,
In furtherance of this thread/conversation I wanted to share an observation that I have made over time about the fact that when I go to a bank branch in Toronto that has an incredibly high turnover of notes. I often obtain long runs of a particular prefix but the serial numbers always change after a small series of notes making it frustrating if you are one or two digits away from a special serial number. What I have come to notice is that what is in common with all these small numerical runs grouped together is they all have the same FPN/BPN and as I am not familiar with the cutting/stacking process when the notes are printed wanted to ask others about how this happens.
TIA Breanna
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Based on the information provided about why new banknotes usually get distributed to Atlantic Canada last, and the reason being lower demand and lasting longer as a result, the tidbit about "gradually released" interests me, and Atlantic Canada only gets to see a tiny amount of new banknotes at a time, probably just once a year. But ironically, this doesn't seem to apply to $10 bills out my way, as I saw two rounds - in 2023 (FFL and FFM) and 2025 (FFN) - of new $10s and they came in great quantities in various small ranges. It's almost like the $10 bill is rebounding in demand (at least in Newfoundland) and the $5 may now be starting to decline. Regarding new banknotes, the trickling effect seems to happen with $20s, $50s and $100s in my province, but I still have yet to see a new R/M $5 note to date. I really hope INR in the mid-1 million range did come to my province in some capacity, and if it did, the $5s are being released to Newfoundland in very tiny quantities, and maybe I might see the R/M $5s for the first time next spring. Based on having seen an new HJC $100 pretty recently, and the lack of L/M $20s in my province to date, I feel as if new banknotes now take three years to finally arrive to my province, and it just goes to show that cash is not needed as greatly in my province these days.
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Atlantic Canada only gets to see a tiny amount of new banknotes at a time, probably just once a year.
$5s are being released to Newfoundland in very tiny quantities,
I feel as if new banknotes now take three years to finally arrive to my province, and it just goes to show that cash is not needed as greatly in my province these days.
It would be interesting if you took a road trip around Newfoundland and stopped in various places--larger communities and smaller ones-- to withdraw a few banknotes.
Then you could see the distribution pattern of new banknotes more clearly throughout your province.
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Hey AJG,
I have offered before and will offer again. When I go branch hopping in the City of Toronto, I am consistently getting runs of new issues and would happily send whatever you may be looking for to you for face value plus postage. I have one branch that for some reason seems to get large quantities of every new prefix. I know that the branch is in a high retail area, but it is also a high income area and I honestly wonder if that has anything to do with it. I just got a nice run of INZ and have a few very nice IOB if you are interested. Also really curious the type of community you are in: rural? small town? Cheers, Breanna
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Thanks for offering, but I will pass.
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I did check out a page on the Bank of Canada's website about the longevity of Polymer $5 bills, and it said that it lasts approximately eight years before they get replaced. I do remember seeing new $5 bills in 2015 and 2017 respectively, and in 2023 and 2025 - when they were due to be replaced - I ended up seeing no new $5 bills, but I did see a vast number of new $10 bills - in the prefixes of FFL and FFM (in 2023) and FFN last summer (different ranges for each prefix). I do not recall there being any new $5 bills available in my province in 2018 nor 2019, but I do recall seeing several new $5s as early as spring or summer 2020, so it looks probable that the next chance for Newfoundland to possibly see new $5 bills in that province will likely not be until 2028.