The Bank of Canada introduced its first polymer banknotes when it released the $100 denomination (& the $50 one year later). Little did collectors know that the $100 EJZ prefix would rarely be seen and have an entry in the Canadian Paper Money Forum's Serial Number Database (SNDB). Most of these prefixes were reported in western Canada (BC).
The Macklem-Carney FKN (1.35M) & the Macklem-Poloz GJA (3.02M) have become popular signature change-overs. A similar situation arose with an increased demand for this $100 during the pandemic & no Wilkins-Macklem signature appeared for the $100. The Lane-Macklem signature appeared on the GKL to GKZ prefixes. Only 30 GKL Lane-Macklem $100 change overs have been reported & HJH is the last prefix (with est 1.8M). Rogers-Macklem signatures have appeared with the HJH prefix (above 2.2M) but all these high denominations continue to be released and it is too premature to comment on how tough they'll be.
The $50 AMK prefix has rarely been recorded on the SNDB & is proving to be quite elusive. Fewer $50 AMG were reported as well, and can be tough to find in high grades. It is more likely that a collector will have saved the replacement rather than the regular issue for AMG. The Macklem-Carney $50 GHD has also been tough (4.9M). Although nearly 5 M were supposed to be issued, only about 60 in low & high number ranges have been reported on the CPMF SNDB.* Recently discovered is the Wilkins-Macklem $50 GME prefix (over 6.25M). Due to high demand during Covid, we have a first time a non Senior Deputy (Timothy Lane) signature that used to replace the Wilkins signature at GMN (above 6.11M). The Lane-Macklem (GMN above 6.12M) have been tough so far. Fifties with the Lane Macklem signature have been reported up to HHA but it remains to be seen how long the signature will last. Ms. Carolyn Rogers took over as Senior Deputy back in December 2021 & her signature remains to be seen. *(You must register with the CPMF to access their SNDB)
On a similar note, the 2012 $20 BSW prefix was short but it has been suggested that only small ranges were actually released since only 16 have been reported in the past 9 years (see image below for an example). The Wilkins-Poloz FVP (approximately 1 M printed) has also been difficult to observe but it is a little early yet to pass a verdict on this $20 Change-over. The newer FY_ & FZ_ prefixes have been released in a trickle pattern. We will be looking for a Lane-Macklem change-over with FZT or beyond (last letter/SN range still to be determined). Information on the FZ_ prefixes remains elusive since so few have been reported.
The initial Macklem-Carney (8.3M) FTH $10 has been a scarce prefix to find (with only 13 reported). I would say it has been much tougher than the 2003 BER/BEL from the Journey series since nobody expected this prefix to be so short (6.7M lowest # reported). You can find this data at the SNDB of the Canadian Paper Money Forum but not in Charlton (oddly enough). In fairness to the catalogue, I believe there have been so few found (& thus sold) that there is probably little in terms for them to go on (in terms of estimating a BV). The Macklem-Poloz (2.4M) FTH $10 was much easier to find (over 600 reported) but can be tougher than the subsequent change-overs. The Macklem-Poloz FTN (7.1M) changed to the less common Wilkins-Poloz FTN (2.8M) signature. Despite the numbers, the 2nd signature combination seems to be easier to find than the first version.
I counted 105 different sheet replacement & 75 SNR replacement prefixes. You will need to consult your Charlton for more info on the insert replacement serial number ranges.
Initially no one saw the first prefix of the 2013 FIVE (HBG) with the Macklem/Carney signature combination except a few scarce examples were eventually discovered. About a year later, (2014) the BOC must have dumped tens of thousands (mostly out west) so that the early FIVE was finally seen and thus only considered uncommon slightly tougher to find out east (3,620,000 printed) as a Change-over.
Recently, it has been discovered that high IND $5 (above 8.9M) are the change-over prefix for Wilkins-Macklem $5 according to a BOC source. INK & INS with Rogers-Macklem signature combos were the next short change-over prefix reported. However, both INK & INS were split with large populations so they are considered fairly common (compared to the "Wilkins-Macklem" IND). Four pages of Sheet replacements have been documented in Charlton and over a page of SNR prefixes but replacements ceased in 2015 & demand for these remained luke warm. After the INS Change-over signature, no further change-overs have been reported and we are now seeing IOA to IOC prefixes with Rogers Macklem Please consult this catalogue for more info on these.
The new 2018 Vertical Series started with FTW prefix and Wilkins-Poloz signature. After FTZ came the FFA prefix. New Wilkins-Macklem FFE have been reported above 1M. It now appears that older FFE Wilkins-Poloz will be a short prefix (under 840,000) signature change-over. FFK Wilkins-Macklem serial numbers are shared with FFK Rogers Macklem (above 8.2M have been reported). At this point, the FFK Rogers Macklem change-over note does not seem to be that tough to source.
LAST UPDATED: May 2026
Scarce BSW prefix with less than 240,000 issued:
Macklem- Carney HBG (is not tough but best prefix to keep in UNC)
Macklem- Carney FTH (is scarce in any condition)
Macklem- Carney BSW (is scarce in any condition/Wilkins-Poloz FVP tough)
Macklem- Carney AMK (is scarce in any condition/M-C AMG & GHD are tough too find too)