Skip to content
  • FR
FR
  • About us
    Building, illuminated glass towers on either side of an old, square, stone building.

    About us

    We're here to help you understand what the Bank of Canada does and how it matters to you.

    About the Bank of Canada

    Find out what the Bank does, who runs the Bank and how it is separate from the political process.

    Connect with us

    We'd love to hear from you! Contact us by email, phone or mail—or join us on social media.

  • Visit

    Visit

    • Plan your visit
    • Accessibility and special needs
    • Code of conduct
    • COVID-19 protocols

    Money in 10 Questions: Kids Edition

    On view until Fall 2024. A play-based exhibition where kids learn the basics of money and personal finance—and have fun doing it.

    Family Fun Weekends

    Pop into the Museum for Family Fun Weekends this May 27 to 28, June 3 to 4 and June 10 to 11 for activities offering both financial know how and fun.

  • Explore

    Exhibitions

    • Permanent exhibition
    • Special exhibitions
    • Travelling exhibitions
    • Past exhibitions

    Blog

    Collection

    • About the Collection
    • Collection Services
    • Canadian Bank Notes Series
    • Search the Collection

    Caring for your coins

    Coin collecting can be a fun and fascinating hobby. But there are a few things you should know to keep your collection safe and in good condition. Because coins aren’t as robust as you might imagine.

  • Learn

    Learn

    • Activities and games
    • Education blog
    • External resources
    • Lesson plans
    • School programs
    • Video discussion guides

    Needs or wants? That is the question!

    Do you need it, or do you want it? That’s an important question to ask before buying anything. This activity is designed to teach kids how to prioritize their needs and wants, and how to make informed choices when shopping.

    Teaching math using money

    From skip counting to making change, working with money is a great way for students to practice math skills.

Notice of early closure
The Museum will be closed Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday, June 28 for maintenance.
  • Home
  • The Museum Blog

The Senior Deputy Governor’s Signature

By: Graham Iddon


August 6, 2014

A little history on who signs the Bank Notes around here

For much of their history, Canadian bank notes have represented a promise, a guarantee that they could be redeemed for “specie” (gold and silver coins) at their parent institution. Like cheques, they required the signature of the issuer to make it negotiable. After the mid-19th century, the head of the issuing body (a bank) had his signature mechanically printed on the bank notes, traditionally on the right. On the left was an area for the signature of another executive (or even a senior clerk) who would countersign the bank note at the time the note was physically issued to the customer. The Finance Department authorized mechanically printed countersignatures in 1913, streamlining the process considerably.

The Bank of Canada Act of 1934 states that all bank notes must be signed by two nominated officials (Senior Deputy Governor and Governor). It also decrees that it is not necessary for the signatures to be handwritten. However, a seal and a serial number must accompany the printed signatures. (although the seals disappeared after the 1935 series.) Over the years, those signatures have been applied using a variety of methods. In the case of the first 3 bank note series they were printed with a letter press: the original signatures were transformed into a steel stamp that was used to apply the signatures to the notes during a special print run. Signatures for later series were lithographed and incorporated into one of the printed layers of the note. The first Canadian lithographic signatures were on the Birds of Canada series $1000.

In the case of the current Polymer series the signatures are intaglio printed: a facsimile of the signature is engraved into a metal plate which is then filled with ink. The plate applies the signature to the bill. This past May we followed Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Wilkins as she went through the process whereby her signature was printed on the nation’s bank notes. She began by inscribing her signature numerous times on a formatted sheet. From the assortment of signatures, one was chosen and scanned into a computer. The image was adjusted for clarity by a Canadian Bank Note Company designer. The designer then incorporated the signature into a digital image of a new bank note, producing a test print called a proof. Wilkins was later brought back in to approve—interestingly, to sign off on her signature.

Next, CBN designers created a 3-D digital image of the signature for a laser engraving machine. It produced the first die with the engraved signature. The die was used to transfer the engraving to a grid of master printing plates that also featured the intaglio portraits that adorn the front of the notes. The first print runs will begin soon and in a few months Carolyn Wilkins will become one of the select few to have ever had the honour of seeing their own signature officially printed on a legal Canadian bank note. How exciting is that?

Steven S. Poloz & Carolyn Wilkins

We want to hear from you! Do you have an idea for a blog post you’d like to see?
Content type(s): Blog posts

Subscribe to The Museum Blog
The Museum Blog

May 3, 2023

Teaching math using money

By: Jonathan Jerome


From skip counting to making change, working with money is a great way for students to practice math skills.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, Financial literacy, Math Grade level(s): Early childhood / Kindergarten, Grade 01, Grade 02
April 4, 2023

Caring for your coins

By: Graham Iddon


Coin collecting can be a fun and fascinating hobby. But there are a few things you should know to keep your collection safe and in good condition. Because coins aren’t as robust as you might imagine.
Content type(s): Blog posts
March 22, 2023

Security is in the bank note

By: Graham Iddon


Collage, photo of wild west street, old bank notes, old counterfeiting brochure.
Security printing is a game of anticipating and responding to criminal threats. Counterfeiting is a game of anticipating and responding to bank note design. This cat and mouse relationship affects every aspect of a bank note.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, Financial literacy Grade level(s): Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
February 2, 2023

Teaching art with currency

By: Adam Young


From design to final product, bank notes and coins can be used to explore and teach art, media and process.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts, Education Grade level(s): Grade 05, Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
January 20, 2023

New Acquisitions—2022 Edition

By: David Bergeron, Krista Broeckx


It’s a new year—the perfect time to look back at some notable artifacts the Museum added to the National Currency collection from 2022. Each object has a unique story to tell about Canada’s monetary and economic history.
Content type(s): Blog posts

More Info

30 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G9, CANADA
613‑782‑8914

  • Things to do

  • Plan your visit
  • Find educational resources
  • Search the Collection
  • Connect with us
  • Things to see

  • Canadian bank notes
  • Exhibitions
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Things to know

  • Accessibility and special needs
  • Code of conduct
  • COVID-19 protocols
  • Privacy
●●
Bank of Canada Museum

Visit the Bank of Canada web site ›

We use cookies to help us keep improving this website.

Accept and continue