Specimen notes are special banknotes marked with the word “SPECIMEN” on the actual note, not just in a photo. They often have a prefix like S, a serial number like 000000, or have holes punched on them. These notes are not real money and cannot be used to pay for goods or services. Instead, they are given to banks or law enforcement agencies for training purposes, to help staff learn how to recognise genuine notes and their security features. On some occasions, specimen notes were also made for commemorative or collectible purposes. Even though these notes have no monetary value, they are rare and are worth a fortune to collectors. 

Specimen notes are different from reproduction notes, which are printed to look like real money but lack security features and are often used for lucky draws. They are also not counterfeit notes, which are fake, illegally made, and often have noticeable differences from real or specimen notes. If you have a counterfeit note in your possession, report it to the police immediately.