The American Bank Note Company (ABNC) and it's subsidiary Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. began experimenting with plastic banknotes in the 1980's. The plastic used was Tyvek from Du Pont.

The Spink Bank Note Auction on the 16th April 1997 in London had 4 lots, 444 to 447 with Specimen and Sample Tyvek notes by the ABNC. These notes were Samples or Specimens from Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela. One can assume that these were Tyvek Samples that the ABNC were using to try to develop a market in these countries.

Costa Rica and Haiti did eventually use Tyvek Notes but only for a very short period between 1980 and 1983. It would appear from anecdotal information that the bonding was not sufficient and the notes deteriorated fairly rapidly in the tropical conditions.

The ABNC subsidiary Bradbury Wilkinson also produced a Bradvek plastic note for the Isle of Man in 1983. Production of this note ceased when the company was sold.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Sample 20 Colones..No Signatures or Serial Numbers
Size 158mm x 68mm

 
 
 

Costa Rica 20 Colones Specimen Note. Size 158mm x 68mm.

Costa Rica 20 Colones Tyvek Note. Issued 1983 with Z Serial Prefix.
Size 158mm x 68mm.

Ecuador

Ecuador 10 Sucres Sample Note. No Signature or Serial Numbers.
Size 158mm x 68mm.

Ecuador 100 Sucres Sample Note...No Siganture or Serial Numbers. Cancellation Holes.
Size 158mm x 68mm. ABNC watermark printed on note.

Ecuador 100 Sucres Sample Note. No Sigantures or Serial Numbers.
Size 158mm x 68mm. ABNC watermark not on note.

El Salvador

El Salvador 5 Colones Sample Note. Signatures but no Serial Numbers.
Size 158mm x 68mm.

El Salvador 10 Colones Sample Note. No Signatures or Serial Numbers.
Size 158mm x 68mm.

Haiti

Haiti 1 Gourde Circulating Note. Size 122mm x 61mm.
This note was also issued in Paper with smaller sized serial numbers.

Haiti 2 Gourdes Specimen Note. Size 122mm x 61mm.

Haiti 2 Gourdes Circulating Note. Size 122mm x 61mm.
This note was also issued in paper with planchettes and smaller serial number.

Haiti 50 Gourdes Sample Note. No Signature or Serial Numbers.
Size 161mm x 70mm.

 

Haiti 50 Gourdes Specimen Note. This note has no Serial Prefix and also ABNC watermark. The Signatures are different from the other Haiti Tyvek issues. Size 163mm x 70mm.

Haiti 50 Gourdes Circulating Note. This note has C Serial Prefix and also ABNC watermark. The Signatures are different from the other Haiti Tyvek issues. Size 163mm x 70mm.
Also issued in paper with planchettes and Serials A, B & G.

Haiti 50 Gourdes Circulating Note. The Serial Prefix of E & F. Size 163mm x 70mm
Signatures the same as the other Haiti Tyvek issues.
Also issued in paper with planchettes and Serials A, B & G.

Haiti 100 Gourdes Circulating Note Serials C & D. Size 163mm x 70mm.
Also issued in paper with planchettes Serials A & B.

Haiti 100 Gourdes Specimen Note with cancellation holes. Size 163mm x 70mm.
 

Haiti 500 Gourdes Specimen  Image from Trevor Wilkin.

 

Honduras

Honduras 10 Lempiras Sample Note. No Signatures or Serial Numbers.
Size 157mm x 68mm.

Isle of Man

Isle of Man Specimen 1 Pound with cancellation hole. Size 135mm x 66mm.

Isle of Man 1 Pound Circulating Note. Serials M, N & P.
Size 135mm x 66mm.

 

Venezuela

Venezuela 10 Bolivares Sample Note. No Signature or Serial Numbers.
Size 157mm x 68mm.

Venezuela 20 Bolivares Sample Note. No Signature or Serial Numbers.
Size 157mm x 68mm

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