What is a Specimen Banknote?

Tonga 1978 2 Pa’anga P-CS1 UNC Specimen

A banknote specimen is a sample version of a currency note, typically printed by a central bank or currency printing authority to demonstrate the design, security features, and other aspects of the note. Specimens are usually marked with the word "SPECIMEN" or with specific codes and may include serial numbers like "000000" or "123456" to distinguish them from actual currency in circulation.

Specimen banknotes are often distributed to banks, law enforcement, and sometimes collectors to help identify authentic banknotes and detect counterfeit versions. Collectors often value specimen banknotes because they are usually rare and provide insight into the design elements and security features of real currency.