Aussie Banknote Serials

I suppose it makes sense that they ar counting down to though the end of the run. This just seems odd to me

It is quite complex as far as the way NPA print Australian notes.

The easiest way I can put it is:
In 2002 there were 870,000 of each First & Last prefixes printed. (This print run started at 000001 through to 870000).

With different denominations there are different amounts of notes per print sheet (have a look at uncut/block notes for instance with 2's, 4's up to 40's).

Polymer $5 notes were printed in sheets of 40. I think below is the way they are constructed (I have an uncut sheet of 4 which has (BA,BI,BB,BJ) the notes in the top left as I've laid out). It makes sense to me.

$5	1	2	3	4	5
1	BA	BI	CD	CL	DG
2	BB	BJ	CE	CM	DH
3	BC	BK	CF	DA	DI
4	BD	BL	CG	DB	DJ
5	BE	BM	CH	DC	DK
6	BF	CA	CI	DD	DL
7	BG	CB	CJ	DE	DM
8	BH	CC	CK	DF	EA

When you think about it...it does look very simple. That was their entire print run, just multiplied by 870,000 copies!!

So enworb, that EA02 000396 is a nice low serial score out of circulation...but just remember if you're heading above 869,000 I'd be considering it a high serial!

Wow you know your stuff when it comes to notes