Just popped in looking for a comment about the difference in the newest prefix bills being released. For those who who may not have noticed, the majority of the Canadian Banknote Company printings (HAB-HAZ and HPB-HPZ in particular) do not have the varnish on the back and front of the bills, rather just the edges and upper left corner on the back as per the 2002 issue.

What this means for those who have been using sharpies and Stazon inkpads is that you can go back to the regular water based ink but you have to be sure it's not a coated bill by looking at it carefully and tilting it slightly under the light. You will immediately notice the difference when comparing the two types of bills!

I'm excited because I can go back to using a red maple leaf and blue, black or red ink now on those bills if I want! Seems that with the upcoming Polymer series and the first printing of $5s by CBN since 2005, no one seems to be concerned with adding a few extra months to their lifespan or it could be a cost saving measure.

Either way it's worth celebrating and hopefully CBN will take production of the $10s and do the same thing so we can give the solvent based inks a rest for awhile and save them for the new banknotes later this year and into 2013. Cheers and happy bill tracking!!

[ message was edited on: 2011/08/05 ]