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Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Convention

By: David Bergeron, Paul S. Berry


January 30, 2015

One blog, two curators

Since 1950, the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) has been Canada’s premier association of money collectors. Every year, it holds a convention for collectors, dealers and those with even a mild interest in the hobby to discuss, examine and acquire these fascinating bits of material culture. The 2014 show took place in Mississauga, Ontario.

Sunrise and skyline

The sun rises over Mississauga.

Since the convention is held in a different part of the country each year, it offers an ideal opportunity for the Bank of Canada Museum to share a part of the National Currency Collection with Canadians. This year, we decided to tell the story of Canada’s phantom banks and the financial crisis of 1837, which affected both Canada and the United States.

Bank note

$5 note issued by the phantom bank Banque de Ottawa. For a short time, it had an actual office in Montréal.

Bank note

Notes from this phantom bank plagued merchants from New York State to Michigan in the winter and spring of 1837.

 

Phantom banks were scams concocted by dubious American businessmen using notes from fictitious Canadian banks to dupe the American public throughout the border states from Vermont to Ohio. The Bank’s Chief Curator gave the talk and a display was set up in conjunction with Paul's presentation, giving attendees a chance to see real examples of these rare notes. The subject was in keeping with the convention theme of “Hands Across the Border,” which celebrated the co-operation and camaraderie between the RCNA and the American Numismatic Association. Elaborating on the convention’s theme, the RCNA Educational Symposium consisted of presentations that touched on Canadian and American numismatics - a wonderful opportunity for participants from the two countries to share their knowledge in good fellowship.

Display cases of bank notes

The Bank of Canada Museum’s mini-exhibition on phantom banks in the exhibit hall

Collectors exhibited a wide variety of material, including bank notes from China and British Columbia; merchant tokens from Orillia, Ontario; and papal medals, to name a few. The Royal Canadian Mint displayed recent products at their booth and a professional engraver was on hand to discuss the manufacturing process. A representative from the Currency Department of the Bank of Canada gave a talk on the security features of Canada’s new polymer notes. For the guests of convention participants, the RCNA hosted tours to Black Creek Pioneer Village and Artcast, a fine art foundry for sculptors.

Printing presses

Antique printing presses at the Black Creek Pioneer Village print shop

Of course, the curators went shopping–but not at the outlet mall. They were able to acquire some very interesting and significant pieces for the National Currency Collection.

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

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The Museum Blog

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
December 6, 2022

Money: it’s a question of trust

By: Graham Iddon


Photo collage, parking meter, old bank notes and an early bank card.
The dollars and cents we use wouldn’t be worth anything to anybody if we didn’t have confidence in it. No matter if it’s gold or digits on a hard drive, public trust is the secret ingredient in a successful currency.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy
November 14, 2022

The day Winnipeg was invaded

By: David Bergeron


People on the street were randomly stopped and searched, and some were even arrested and imprisoned in an internment camp. Even German marks replaced Canadian currency in circulation—in the form of If Day propaganda notes.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): History Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
October 18, 2022

Positive notes

By: Krista Broeckx


The imagery on the Bank of Canada’s 1935 note series depicts the country’s rich industrial history.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): History
June 16, 2022

Army bills: Funding the War of 1812

By: David Bergeron, Graham Iddon


In 1812, British North America had no banks and little currency. With the prospect of war drying up supplies of coins, the government of Lower Canada decided to issue legal tender notes called “army bills” to pay for troops and supplies.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, History
May 5, 2022

Between tradition and technology

By: Graham Iddon


Collage, man at an easel, paintings of birds and a goose illustration with comments written on it.
What was proposed was a complete about-face from the philosophy behind recent security printing. If photocopiers could easily deal with the colours and designs of the current series, then the next series should be bold and simple.
Content type(s): Blog posts

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