Another convention of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) wrapped up in July. This year the convention was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was the first time in over thirty years that the RCNA Convention made a stop there. Every year the National Currency Collection of the Bank of Canada is invited to exhibit a non-competitive display that is not only a way of attracting visitors to the convention, but is also an opportunity to give Canadians a chance to see some of the Collection’s hidden treasures. Usually, the display is developed to reflect the host city of the convention, so this year, part of the display was about money and banking in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg has had a long and active monetary history since its first permanent settlement was established by Lord Selkirk in 1812. The display featured three Hudson’s Bay Company financial instruments: an 1820 series promissory note from York factory issued in 1824, a draft dated 1835 issued at the Red River Settlement and a promissory note dated 1870 from Fort Garry, which was situated at the fork of the Red and Assiniboia Rivers in what is now downtown Winnipeg.

York Factory, Hudson’s Bay Co., 1820 series, issued 1 September 1824, 1-pound promissory note signed by George Simpson, Governor of Rupert’s Land / Comptoir York Factory de la Compagnie de la Baie d’Hudson, série de 1820, émission le 1er septembre 1824, billet à ordre de 1 livre signé par George Simpson, gouverneur de la Terre de Rupert
Red River Settlement, Hudson’s Bay Co., 19 February 1835, bill of exchange for 10 pounds, 2 shillings payable to the “Fur Trade,” signed by Thomas Bunn, father of John Bunn Councillor of Assiniboia / Colonie de la rivière Rouge, Compagnie de la Baie d’Hudson, 19 février 1835, lettre de change au montant de 10 livres, 2 shillings libellée à « Fur Trade » et signée par Thomas Bunn
Fort Garry, Hudson’s Bay Co., 27 May 1870, 1-pound promissory note signed by William Mactavish, Governor of Rupert’s Land and Assiniboia / Fort Garry, Compagnie de la Baie d’Hudson, 27 mai 1870, billet à ordre de 1 livre signé par William Mactavish, gouverneur de la Terre de Rupert et d’Assiniboia

There was a also a unique 1870 $2 Dominion note overprinted Manitoba and a selection of chartered bank notes from established institutions: the Bank of Ottawa, the Bank of Toronto ( both opened branches in Winnipeg) or from new upstart banks like the Commercial Bank of Manitoba or the Union Bank of Canada, whose head offices were located in Winnipeg. Beginning in 1881, the banking boom in the city came on the heels of the expansion of the railroad. Winnipeg became known as the Gateway to the Prairies. To learn more about the objects displayed by the Bank of Canada at the 2013 RCNA Convention, check out the images below.

Commercial Bank of Manitoba (1885-1893), 1 May 1885, 5 dollars, issued note / Banque commerciale du Manitoba (1885-1893), 1er mai 1885, 5 dollars, billet émis
Commercial Bank of Manitoba, 2 January 1891, 10 dollars, issued note / Banque commerciale du Manitoba, 2 janvier 1891, 10 dollars, billet émis
Union Bank of Canada, 1 July 1921, 100 dollars, specimen / Union Bank of Canada, 1er juillet 1921, 100 dollars, spécimen
Union Bank of Canada (1886-1925), 1 July 1912, 50 dollars, issued note / Union Bank of Canada (1886-1925), 1er juillet 1912, 50 dollars, billet émis
Northern Crown Bank (1908-1918), 2 July 1908, 5 dollars, issued note / Northern Crown Bank (1908-1918), 2 juillet 1908, 5 dollars, billet émis
Dominion of Canada, 1 July 1870, 2 dollars payable at Toronto, overprinted MANITOBA / Dominion du Canada, 1er juillet 1870, billet de 2 dollars payable à Toronto, avec l’inscription MANITOBA en surcharge
Bank of Toronto (1855-1954), 1 July 1887, 20 dollars, overprinted Winnipeg, issued note / Banque de Toronto (1855-1954), 1er juillet 1887, 20 dollars, inscription WINNIPEG en surcharge, billet émis
Northern Bank (1905-1908), 1 November 1905, 20 dollars, issued note / Northern Bank (1905 1908), 1er novembre 1905, 20 dollars, billet émis
Bank of Ottawa (1874-1919), 2 November 1880, 10 dollars, overprinted Winnipeg, specimen / Banque d’Ottawa (1874-1919), 2 novembre 1880, 10 dollars, inscription WINNIPEG en surcharge, specimen