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.
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.
$5 note issued by the phantom bank Banque de Ottawa. For a short time, it had an actual office in Montréal.
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.
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.
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.
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Content type(s):
Blog posts
The Museum Blog
February 2, 2023
From design to final product, bank notes and coins can be used to explore and teach art, media and process.
Teaching art with currency
By: Adam Young
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
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.
New Acquisitions—2022 Edition
Content type(s):
Blog posts
December 6, 2022
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.
Money: it’s a question of trust
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog posts
Subject(s):
Economy
November 14, 2022
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.
The day Winnipeg was invaded
By: David Bergeron
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
The imagery on the Bank of Canada’s 1935 note series depicts the country’s rich industrial history.
Positive notes
By: Krista Broeckx
Content type(s):
Blog posts
Subject(s):
History
June 16, 2022
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.
Army bills: Funding the War of 1812
Content type(s):
Blog posts
Subject(s):
Economy,
History
May 5, 2022
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.
Between tradition and technology
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog posts
