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Last Update April 9, 2023

Bank note printing and cash management system firms worldwide show their expertise by printing examples or samples, usually called Test Notes or Promotional Notes.


The most common types are:

·         Test notes made for marketing purposes.

·         Test notes produced for large, international gatherings of currency collectors, dealers, bank note issuing authorities, and ATM manufacturers. Examples would include: International Bank Note Society annual meetings ,CeBIT, Centrum der Büro- und Informationstechnik; German for "Centre of Office and Information Technology", the world's largest computer trade show (ATM notes), • Association of African Banknotes and Security Documents Printers Conference • Intergraf. Intergraf represents 22 national printing federations in 20 countries in Europe. • Currency Industry Suppliers Exhibition (CIS). Their events are called Currency Conferences. • High Security Printing Conference (Asia, Latin America, & Europe) – Reconnaissance • The Banknote Conference • Interpol Conference • International Bank Note Society annual meetings • International Monetary Fund • Watermark Conference • Security Design Intaglio Printing Note Exhibition (Printers Test Notes).

·         Test notes made for trial runs of future use.

·         Test ATM's and other devices such as currency counters. (Thanks, Jim!)

·         Test notes made for banking and cash handling firms to practice with new issue of notes.


Have news on test notes or the firms that produce them?
Have test notes to trade or sell?
Want to see what notes have been attributed since the last catalog update?

Bank Note Printers

UPDATED June 28, 2023. The Catalog of Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes – 18th Edition was released June 2023. This eBook now has 285 firms, 3,479 notes, 6,031 varieties, & 1,292 pages.

UPDATED March 29, 2022. American Bank Note Test Notes Book – 2019 sold out in 3 months. NEW 2022 release is now sold out as well in 12 months. 1/3rd larger in size with 44% more associated firms attributed. The book covers all notes from the ABNC + 39 associated firms. The book runs 109 pages, with a cost of $25 WHEN ORDERED DIRECTLY HERE.

UPDATED April 4, 2023, North American Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes. It was released April 4, 2023 to replace the sold out 2020 book. The book covers all notes from the ABNC + 128 other North American firms. The book runs 280 pages, with a cost of $42.50 WHEN ORDERED DIRECTLY HERE.

Catalog Cover ABNC Cover North American Cover

For order page for the books or eBooks, go here
  • Order Page CLICK HERE

    The new for 2022 "American Bank Note Test Catalog - SOLD OUT IN 12 MONTHS - DO NOT ORDER" book specifics:

  • All 167 ABNC test, advertising, color sample, promotional, salesman's sample notes.
  • All 263 notes from 39 known printer firms producing test notes that were predecessors or were acquired by ABNC from 1850 forward.
  • All COLOR NOTE IMAGES
  • Attributing all sub-varieties, such as date, logo, address, color, material, security device differences, and others.
  • 109 pages, spiral bound book with 65# white laser glossy paper cover to allow laying book on flat surface.
  • Current catalog values
  • Cross reference "family trees" of all firms that formed the American Bank Note Company

    The new for 2023 "North American Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes " book data:

  • All 179 ABNC test, advertising, color sample, promotional, salesman's sample notes, with 372 varieties. (151/251 last issue)
  • All notes from 26 known printer firms producing test notes that were predecessors or were acquired by ABNC from 1850 forward.
  • 129 known printer firms producing test notes in all North America from 1820 forward. (6 new firms added)
  • Total notes attributed 951, with 1,713 varieties. (655/1071 last issue)
  • All COLOR NOTE IMAGES, totaling 1,338. (1014 last issue)
  • Attributing all sub-varieties, such as date, logo, address, color, material, security device differences, and others.
  • 280 pages, spiral bound book with 70# white laser glossy paper cover to allow laying book on flat surface. (198 pages last issue)
  • Current catalog values
  • Cross reference "family trees" of all firms that formed the American Bank Note Company
  • Introduction & Table of Contents CLICK HERE

    Significant changes for The Catalog of Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes catalog include:

  • Security features for many notes are noted, physically pointed to, or shown with additional images. The images are close ups, under ultraviolet light, with back light, or at a sharp angle.
  • Glossary greatly enhanced with 233 registered or patented security terms from Active to Zebra, complete with definitions and patent holder.
  • All 285 known printer firms producing test notes (5 new firms added from last year), including Printer's test, house and advertising notes from the 1820's forward. The catalog also includes any firm used to produce bank notes, including security ink, security paper mills, polymer producers, holographic and other security devices, and banknote design firms.
  • 7,249 COLOR NOTE IMAGES
  • When formating allowed, LARGER IMAGES used for details.
  • Attributing 3,479 with 6,031 sub-varieties, such as date, logo, address, color, material, security device differences, and others.
  • Instructions for converting the PDF file to Mobi for use with KINDLE READERS.
  • 1,292 pages - 60 more pages than last edition!
  • Not only current catalog values, but values with folders included when available.

    UPDATED March 17, 2020. The following 13 MB Adobe Acrobat PDF file of bank note printers test note table contains information on all known paper suppliers, ink suppliers, substrate (holograms, Kinegrams, stamping foils) suppliers, and currency designers that have produced test notes. The number of known test note varieties is listed as well in red, along with a sample note. The next PDF is the Table of Contents of The Catalog of Printers' Test Notes - 14th Edition.

  • Printers Test Note Table - Lists all firms with test notes, company information, number of test note attributed, & a sample test note CLICK HERE

  • Table of Contents - The Catalog of Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes - 16th Edition CLICK HERE

  • Table of Contents - American Bank Note Company Test Notes CLICK HERE

    UPDATED March 2018.
    Here is a photo page of all new "finds", not attributed in the latest Printers Catalog 13 and ATM Catalog 11

  • Test Note Photo AlbumCLICK HERE
    Here is a photo page of all new "finds", not attributed in the latest Printers Catalog 14
  • Test Note Photo AlbumCLICK HERE

    ATM Firms

    Bank Note Printers

    UPDATED April 12, 2022. The Catalog of ATM Test Notes – 12th Edition was released April 2022.

    Catalog Cover

    UPDATED April 12, 2022. The following ATM Table of Contents contains a list of all firms with ATM test notes, the alpha catalog prefix for each, the number of test notes, and the number of test note varieties.
  • ATM Test Note Table CLICK HERE


    For order page for the books or eBooks, go here

  • Order Page CLICK HERE

    Test Notes Articles

    Article published in 2021 in Paper Money (Society of Paper Money Collectors) - "Early Polymer Luinus with Color Watermarks from Domtar". 3 page story about Domtar test notes using Luminus which can create a color watermark.

    Polymer Luinus with Color Watermarks from Domtar CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2020 in The Souvenir Card Journal (SCCS) - "The BABN “Young Woman” Vignette". 7 page story about the many uses of the British American “Young Woman” vignette, including stock certificate, souvenir card and multiple test notes.

    "Young Woman" Vignette Uses CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2020 in Paper Money (Society of Paper Money Collectors) - "An Alternate Look at the “Giori” Jefferson Test Notes". 5 page story about these test notes attributed to Giori press machines and new information offering other possibilities.

    Alternate Look at Giori Test Notes CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2020 in the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Journal - "Test Notes of CBPM including the World Record Test Note". Received Honorable Mention for best article of the year. 11 page story about the test notes of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation and 9 of their wholly-owned subsidiaries, including the new world record price for a single test note.

    Test Notes of CBPM including the World Record Test Note CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2020 in The Souvenir Card Journal (SCCS) - "Test Notes – A General Guide". 5 page story about general information about test notes and catalog numbering system, types, valuing notes, including reasons for price changes.

    Cataloging & Valuing Test Notes CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2019 in Paper Money (Society of Paper Money Collectors) - "The Many Uses of the American Bank Note Company “Progress” Vignette". 10 page story about the 36 known uses of Forninger’s “Progress” vignette, including ABN Archive Series, Souvenir Cards, Stamp, Stock Certificates, Bonds, Test Notes, and banknote.

    Progress Vignette Uses CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2019 in The Souvenir Card Journal (SCCS) - "Promotional Note Encompasses Two Souvenir Cards". 4 page story about two American Bank Note Co test notes of Paul Revere and the souvenir cards with similar vignettes.

    Paul Revere Test Notes & Souvenir Cards CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2018 in the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Journal - "The Perfect Pair - Test Notes and Currency Conferences". Received Honorable Mention for best article of the year. 9 page story about one of the main uses of Printers' Test Notes - promotional or house notes provided at currency conferences for current and potential customers.

    The Perfect Pair - Test Notes and Currency Conferences CLICK HERE

    Article published in 2015 in the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Journal - "Printers’ Test Notes – A Primer". Received 2nd Place for best article of the year. 5 page story about "All you wanted to know about printers' test notes but were afraid to ask". Example: What is the oldest firm to produce a test note? (Establish in 1264, have a look and see!) Other examples: Oldest test note, most expensive test note, and test note produced together by the most firms (6).

    Printers’ Test Notes – A Primer CLICK HERE

    Article published in the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Journal - "An Introduction to ATM Test Notes” - Intrinsically worthless, demo dollars offer a wealth of collecting opportunities". 3 page story about ATM test notes, including the history of ATM development.

    An Introduction to ATM Test Notes CLICK HERE

    "Promotional Paper Provenance". Article published in 2021 in The Souvenir Card Journal (SCCS) - 2 page story about a printer's sample and the search for what it was used for and the firm.

    Promotional Paper Provenance CLICK HERE

    "A Tale of Two Thomas Edison Notes". Article published in 2021 in The Souvenir Card Journal (SCCS) - 3 page story about 2 different test notes from 2 different printing firms with the same portrait of Thomas Edison.

    A Tale of Two Thomas Edison Notes CLICK HERE

    "Harrison & Sons and Isambard Kingdom Brunel". Article published in 2021 in the International Bank Note Society Journal (IBNS) - 2 page story about Harrison's penchant of Brunel.

    Harrison & Sons and Isambard Kingdom Brunel CLICK HERE

    "Concept Notes". A 28 page special publication of Currency News highlighting recent concept or house notes produced by Louisenthal, Nanotech, De La Rue, Crane Currency, CCL Secure, Krypten, Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, Hungarian Bank Note Printing Co, Orell Füssli, Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartosciowych (PWPW), Kurz, and Note Printing Australia.
  • Concept NotesCLICK HERE