1996 $100 Test Note Fraser/Evans R616T Uncirculated
1996 $100 Test Note Fraser/Evans R616T Uncirculated
Front: Sir John Monash at centre
Back: Dame Nellie Melba
Period on Issue: Late 1996 through 1997
Mintage: Based on information from the RBA, believed to be around 10,000,000
This scarce $100 is one of a very small print run used to test opacifying ink.
These notes were printed as test notes to determine the acceptability of a modification to one of the materials in the opacifying ink. This ink is the one used to colour the clear substrate - it is not the final printing ink used for the design features. The latter is commercially available printing inks which need no modification for polymer substrate. It is understood that the opacifying ink is tailored to match the characteristics of the polymer substrate.
Up to this point, the second letter of the prefix for all denominations and years has not been greater than "M". For this variety, an additional sheet of 32 notes was printed with prefixes ranging from AN to AZ, BN to BZ and CN to CS. The letter "O" continued to be used in the prefix structure. At first glance, these notes appear to fit the published prefix range of AA 96 to JK 96 but in practice, they are an additional printing outside the conventional prefix ranges of AA to AM, BA to BM etc.
In fact, the printing of the regular 1996 $100 was interrupted to print these test notes.
Not every number is used; the sequence goes from 999999 to 648001 or 351,999 notes per prefix. Theoretically, this represents 11,263,968 notes although it is understood that about 10,000,000 notes were issued. Errors in production and notes used for the physical evaluation would account for the difference.
On-site testing of the modification to the opacifying ink was positive.
It is believed there is no discernible difference between notes with and without modification to the inks. The Reserve Bank advised that they would not have released the notes into general circulation if there were a discernible difference. This is understandable as it would not wish to have different notes circulating concurrently in the event that the different notes impair the integrity of the currency.
When the RBA was satisfied that there was no difference between the regular and the test notes, the test notes were released into circulation - small quantities of the notes in late 1996 and the balance in 1997. (This may also partly explain why 1997 $100 notes were not printed for circulation.)
Source: Trevor Wilkin
SKU: 3999
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SKU | 3999 |
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