How to identify physically? [solved]

Besides any prefix differences, for those of you who have the Tyvek note, how does it feel compared to the paper one? Is it an obvious smoothness like today's polymer, or is it more subtle?

I have the opportunity to buy one of these but would like to be able to check it is legit when I get it.

I have not looked at my Tyvek notes for quite a while now. Generally, I do not touch my UNC notes with my bare hand, so it is hard to explain. For a start, the quality is not as smooth or even as those polymer notes. If you have the Isle of Man 1 pound Bradvek note, they both look the same. I do not believe you have any concern not to believe your note is not genuine, as I have not heard of any fake ones produced and sold in the market yet. In all, there are 10 prefixes for the 2 Gourdes (K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T & U), all printed with the same signatures. If you have any materials at home or office that are made out of polyethylene fibers. In my office we have internal bags that are made with this material. I have enlarged the 2G left hand margin and you can for yourself.

ahkai

 

 In all, there are 10 prefixes for the 2 Gourdes (K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T & U), all printed with the same signatures.

Maybe add this info to the page?

That is useful info, the Haiti was the one I was worried about because the seller didn't specify Tyvek. But the prefix is one in your list so that's a good sign.

For a start, the quality is not as smooth or even as those polymer notes. If you have the Isle of Man 1 pound Bradvek note, they both look the same.

I haven't inspected a 2 Gourdes from Haiti (don't have one) but I have the 1 Pound Tyveck/Bradvek “plastic pound” & can say that the note looks much smoother than regular paper.  I wouldn't go so far as to say there's a sheen to the surface but its close to a sheen- sort of like the paper was waxed. You can see its surface is smoother than paper. 

When going by online scans you're just going to have to check the prefix & wait till you have the note in hand (to inspect it yourself). 

I'll let you guys know when I get them (I have ordered both).

I wanted the Costa Rica one also, but man that one is pricey!

Have a look at what I have here.

You can basically tell from the signatures. Only the 50G 1980 note (world first plastic banknote) has difference signatures. I started collecting them when the 2G was selling for $1 to $2 each. Now it’s just ridiculously to get one at a fair price.

BramVB

ahkai

 

 In all, there are 10 prefixes for the 2 Gourdes (K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T & U), all printed with the same signatures.

Maybe add this info to the page?

@BramVB, please feel free to update that. I have 8 of the prefixes issued in my collection.

The Tyvek Banknotes That Came Before Australian Polymer – Banknote World

The above link will give you some ideas how the Tyvek banknote will look like. Please refer to the envelope material as posted on the site. If you look at the quality of the banknote, you will see like it has watermarks, but those are not watermarks, but just the way the Tyvek material is made. If there were any fake copies of these Haiti Tyvek notes, it will be the 250 and 500 Gourdes. These are the rarest of the Tyvek series, and I have only saw once on eBay back in the 2000s and the condition of the note was barely recognised and yet it was sold for US$230+. The other time I saw them was on auction in the USA and was sold for a few thousand dollars in UNC conditions (US$3,000+) and that was more than 10 years ago.  However, there are plenty for the specimens and many of these are in collector’s hands. I know of a collector who has been looking for the 100 gourdes UNC note for almost 20 years now. This is another rare note now. You can find this note in circulated condition on eBay.

I already spent way over what I should on notes in the last two months so I am going to be stopping at just those two for now. 

At least I will have a Tyvek and a Bradvek note.

There is so much to collect!

But for example I would much rather spend on notes that I am missing in a series where I already have all the others. That 2012-06 Malawi 20 Kwacha is one example. The other one is the Cambodia 2000 Riels Commemorative from 2018, the diplomatic relations one.

So I am going to have to back off from the otherTyveks.

Oh no, I do not expect you to go for the rest of the series as it is now getting quite expensive. Back in those days, we could buy Costa Rica 20 colones for less than $20 in UNC condition. 
 

Below are some other details for the Tyvek/Bradvek notes issued;

Haiti

1G - Prefixes V, W, X, Y, Z, AA, AB, AC, AD & AE (Z is not a replacement prefix);

2G - Prefixes - K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T & U (I have not personally sighted U yet);

50G - Prefix C only nd1980 (world first plastic note) I believe only one prefix printed;

50G - Prefixes - D, E & F nd1982

100G - Prefixes - C, D & E

250G - no prefix (I believe)

500G - no prefix (I believe)

Costa Rica - 20 colones - Prefix Z only

Isle of Man - Prefixes M, N & P

Both of the notes arrived today, I will give my impression.

The 2 Gourdes is a K prefix, and it looks just as I was expecting, when compared to the catalog image of P#231A.

Contrary to what I expected, this note feels rougher than even a paper note. It is similar to a microfibre texture!

Also, this has a distinctive odour, I noticed it as soon as I took the note out of the sleeve. Would be interesting to see who else can smell that

Lastly, this note has striking UV activity, I will add that to the catalog.

The Isle of Man note is prefix N.

It is not as rough as the 2 Gourdes note, but it has the same odour. It is just that little  bit rougher than a paper note.

This one has no UV activity.