I was looking at https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/resources/for-collectors/serial-numbers/ today trying to figure how many of some notes were printed and part of that was working out how many notes there are per sheet. For Next Generation $5 notes the prefixes are AA to EJ - by my count 62 notes to a sheet, and for all other denominations the prefixes are AA to EA - by my count 53 notes to a sheet. Is that right? I'm doubting myself because 53 is a prime number so there's no way to lay out the notes without having one hang off, and while 62 isn't prime, I don't think NPA are printing 31x2 sheets of notes either.
This is unusual. I was under the impression that Note Printing Australia and the Reserve by extension printed notes in 100 note sheets.
And I am totally wrong.
https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/production-and-distribution/production/
read this section
How Australia's Banknotes Are Made
Hm, I never thought it was as high as 100, though not really sure.
AA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AI AJ AK AL AM
BA BB BC BD BE BF BG BH BI BJ BK BL BM
CA CB CC CD CE CF CG CH CI CJ CK CL CM
DA DB DC DD DE DF DG DH DI DJ DK DL DM
EA
I count 53 but that page says 54. Maybe they actually go to EB?
If they only produce 45 $100 notes they should stop somewhere around DF. AA to DF = 45. So how do they manage the other 8 prefixes?
With the $5 they have one too many in every print run. Seems like a waste.
When I think about it, it makes sense not to put out 100 note sheets because banknotes aren't square. I wonder if they do tours at NPA so we can see the process? And have some free samples.
Hm, more investigation required I think.
I tried finding a charity sheet but all I could see was https://www.sterlingcurrency.com.au/blog/news-research/decimal-coins-banknotes/governor-s-charity-sheet-notes-a-new-type-of-speci/?srsltid=AfmBOoqVhTgQm9ckXrEhhiuM3xzvHOUuBo4wspOew4O42U_BAepkqbVw
But it has 2015 serial numbers for 2017.
That said, the last prefixes must be right as people are buying and selling them and if they were wrong someone would notice.
Quote from: 'Mister T' pid='129839' dateline='1737791020'That said, the last prefixes must be right as people are buying and selling them and if they were wrong someone would notice.
Definitely. That wouldn't have gone unnoticed.
I've sent the RBA a message - hopefully I get a response.