Paper Money And Toonies Hunting

I always search paper money, and it is very common with paper money collectors. When searching paper money, you can look for insert notes (Modern day replacements), Changeovers, special serial numbers, and errors.

When looking for error notes, you can look for the very obvious cutting errors or serial number errors. Where the S/N on the left is not the same as the right. (This can also happen with prefixes)

Here is a list of "special numbers" that you can look for, I have posted this on the forum a couple of times, but it is a great reference.

Here is a breakdown of the "special numbered" notes, that you should be looking out for. All of the prices are just estimates. (The prices are given for the Journey Series notes - Which is the currency that is used on a day to day basis) If a "special number" is on an older series of banknote, then it will be worth more. All of the estimates given are for Uncirculated condition. The price will change based on condition, denomination, and prefix.


Solid Radars: The serial number consists of only 1 digit. Since the majority of Canadian notes have a run of 10,000,000 (Serial Numbers 0000001 to 9999999) - There are only 9 "Solid's" per prefix. The serial number 8888888 is worth more and will be talked about later.

Example: 1111111, 2222222, 3333333
Price: $1,000 to $1,250
*Note: The serial number 8888888 is worth more and will be talked about later. (See "Rotator Note" Section)


Two Digit Radars: The serial number consists of only 2 digits.

Example: 1221221, 0300030, 5115115
Price: $75 to $170 (Roughly $70 over Face Value)


Three and Four Digit Radars: The serial number consists of only 3 or 4 digits. These are common notes.

Example: 1409141, 0049400, 2533352
Price: $20 to $120 (Roughly $15-$20 over Face Value)


Ladder Notes: A "Ladder Note" has a consecutive serial number. Ladder notes can be Ascending/Descending or Ascending/Descending Radars.

Example: 1234567 (Ascending), 1234321 (Ascending/Descending Radar), 9876543 (Descending)
Price: $400 to $475


Million Numbered Notes A million numbered note is exactly what it sounds like. The Serial number will consist of any number followed by 6 zeros. Just like the solid radar notes, there are only 9 of these per prefix.

Example: 1000000, 2000000, 3000000
Price: $400 to $550


Low Serial Numbered Notes Banknotes with a serial number that is 1000 or lower is considered to be a "Low Serial Numbered Note"

Example: 0000001, 0000050, 0001000 (Low Serial Number Radar)
Serial Number 1 - $1,550 to $1,750
Serial Number 2 to 9 - $110 to $325
Serial Number 10 to 99 - $20 to $180
Serial Number 100 to 999 - $18 to $135


Rotator Notes or "SWIMS" Note: The Serial Number on a Rotator note is the same as when you flip the note upside down. On a rotator note, the middle digit must be an 8 or 0, and the remaining digits have to be 0, 6, 8, or 9.

Example: 9000006, 8980868, 6990669
Price: $130 to $240
*Note: The Solid 8's Note is probably worth $1,500


Repeater Notes: Repeater Notes have a serial number that keeps repeating itself. These can include radars.

Example: 4014014 (401 Keeps Repeating), 0199019 (0199 Keeps Repeating), 5656565 (Two Digit Radar Repeater. 56 Keeps Repeating)
Price: $80 to $170 (Two Digit Cycle)
Price: $15 to $120 (Three Digit Cycle)


All Price Estimates are from "Charlton Standard Catalogue: Canadian Government Paper Money. 24th Edition"

Good catch Fred. It's fixed now.

No, the examples were ones that I came up with. I should have switched the 8's and 6's.

The book that many collectors of Canadian Paper Money use, is the one I was referring to in my first post.

"Charlton Standard Catalogue: Canadian Government Paper Money. 24th Edition"

Radars read the same forward and backwards. They go back to the first man's introduction to the first woman:

"Madam, I'm Adam"

Loonies and toonies are Canadian $1 and $2 coins. Toonies are also know as the coin showing the Queen with the bear behind.




Only for a few months.