Canada DuraNote 100 Hundred Polymer Test Banknote

DuraNote was developed by Mobil Chemical and AGRA Vadeko in Canada but ultimately failed in trials, leading to its abandonment. Following the Exxon-Mobil merger, the patents were sold. Silba International and Banknote Design & Security Printing, Inc. produced several DuraNote advertising notes, which can still surface in the collectors' market today. DuraNote featured advanced counterfeit protection with 21 ultra-thin layers of OPP film and other materials. Promotional materials claimed it outlasted traditional paper notes by four times, remaining crisp and resistant to dirt. This innovation aimed to lower printing costs and included a clear plastic window with optional security features for enhanced copy resistance. Test notes were printed for 21 countries, including the U.S., which produced around 40,000 sheets that remain uncirculated, likely destroyed or archived at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Since 1999, DuraNote has shifted focus to developing improved laminated substrates, with financing from the Canadian government.