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    Between tradition and technology

    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.

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    Needs or wants? That is the question!

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A Field Trip to Montréal and the MTM Auction: 2

By: Paul S. Berry


November 15, 2016

Paul engages the competition

When we left our Chief Curator, he was sitting in a Montréal auction room politely observing a fast sale of some very old French Canadian money. The bidding so far seemed low. He was feeling confident about his upcoming bids, but then he wasn’t the only person interested in those lots…

It’s the auctioneer’s job to get as high a price for an article possible.

The next lot, #13, a 24 livres card dated 1730, was the largest and most impressive piece of card money in the auction. After spirited bidding, it sold, for $28,000. This was quite a difference from the previous lot, but no matter, we already have an example in the National Currency Collection. What caused me grief, however, was that the underbidder of lot #13 became my competition for the next lot.

Several parties were bidding on lot #14 until it reached $10,000, at which point the contest was only between me and the gentleman who had underbid the previous lot. Holding our bidder numbers close to our chests we each looked toward the auctioneer as he called out bids in increments of $1,000. I nodded and the auctioneer cried, “Eleven thousand, onze mille,” followed immediately by “Twelve thousand, I have twelve thousand behind you sir.” I bid, “Thirteen thousand…” a pause. I thought, “Perhaps he dropped out.” “Fourteen thousand, quatorze mille.” “Damn, he didn’t.” I nodded again. “Fifteen thousand, quinze mille.” And then “Sixteen thousand.” I thought, “How high will he go? One last bid.” I nodded again and the auctioneer cried, “Seventeen thousand, dix-sept mille.” Then I heard the fateful words: “Eighteen thousand!” I thought, “That’s it. I’m out!” The auctioneer continued, “Eighteen thousand, I have eighteen thousand once, dix-huit mille deux fois.” The auctioneer paused as he surveyed the floor for more bids. “SOLD at eighteen-thousand!”

The audience clapped in appreciation. I sat still and waited for the next lot. This, though, was the only defeat I suffered. Over the next 15 or so minutes I spent in excess of $20,000—purchasing four unique pieces of early Canadian paper money.


1753, 24 livres. François Bigot, the last intendant of New France signed this note. After the war ended he was prosecuted for corrupt practices. (NCC 2016.44.2)



1759, 30 sols. This note was issued from Montréal after the fall of Québec City. Note how Québec has been crossed out and Montréal written above. (NCC 2016.44.3)


My purchases for the day included three rare pieces of French regime paper money and one unique piece of scrip issued by the Montréal post office. The French regime notes rarely appear on the market and are among Canada’s earliest paper money. The card for 12 livres was part of a series initiated in 1683 when the colonial government lacked sufficient funds to pay their troops.

The two later instruments, dated 1753 and 1759, respectively, are called billets d’ordonnance and were distributed during the ongoing wars between England and France. The large numbers issued and subsequently left unredeemed after 1760 led to a general mistrust of paper money in Canada that lasted until the 19th century.

The 15 pence note from the post office is only the second known to exist. The other, for 6 pence, is in the National Currency Collection. These notes were issued during the financial crisis of 1837 when the banks in Lower Canada ceased redeeming their notes in gold or silver. People hoarded coinage, and merchants were forced to issue bons, or private paper notes, to conduct business.


1837, 15 pence. Many bons included images of coins in their design to help people to identify their value. A silver Spanish colonial 2 real piece from Lima Peru is pictured on this note. (NCC 2016.44.4)



1747, 12 livres. Each denomination of card money was a different shape to assist those who could not read to identify the value. (NCC 2016.44.1)


Having finished bidding and eager to return to Ottawa to spend time with my family, I hurried out of the sale room. On Saturday afternoon the bus leaves Montréal for Ottawa every hour on the hour. By the time I reached the wicket the attendant would only sell me a ticket for the 3 o’clock bus. I took it and headed for Gate 18, arriving just in time to see the 2 o’clock bus backing out of the bay. Over the next hour I read, rested and was accosted by a man who offered to sell me his jacket for $70 to buy a ticket. A one-way ticket to Ottawa costs $40. In any event, I finally boarded the bus, arrived at the Ottawa station before 6:00 and caught a cab home.

Saturday, 14 May 2016 was no longer than any other day, but it felt as if I had accomplished more than usual. I had travelled over 250 miles, visited one of Canada’s great cities and spent loads of money (thankfully not my own) on four excessively rare notes that now can be shared with all Canadians. All in all not a bad day! What’s on for tomorrow?

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Content type(s): Blog posts

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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
April 21, 2022

Teaching the green economy

By: Adam Young


From windmills and solar panels to electric cars, signs of the green economy are all around us. Check out our resources for how to teach about the green economy.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Geography, Science, Social studies 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
April 4, 2022

Talk to your kids about money

By: Heather Montgomery


Collage, ceramic pig on background of a bank book and a stamp folder with kids on it.
Introduce important financial skills to your children, and help them plan for their futures with free resources from the Bank of Canada Museum and others.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Financial literacy Grade level(s): Early childhood / Kindergarten, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04, 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
March 3, 2022

Teaching inflation during the COVID-19 pandemic

By: Heather Montgomery


COVID-19 has had an unprecedented effect on the economy: closing businesses, driving down demand and interrupting supplies. With news stories and popular culture addressing inflation and supply chain issues, now is the perfect time to explain this key economic concept to your high school students.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
February 3, 2022

Queen of the bank notes

By: Graham Iddon


Few of us have ever met her, and it’s likely none of us are even remotely related to her. Yet, Canadians have carried her picture in their wallets for generations now. She’s Queen Elizabeth II and has been our monarch for over 70 years.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): History
December 22, 2021

New acquisitions–2021 edition

By: David Bergeron


The Bank of Canada Museum is responsible for the National Currency Collection, and part of its mandate is to foster and develop that collection. Despite the challenges of collecting during a pandemic, curators at the Bank of Canada Museum have acquired some unique artifacts—including some that document the pandemic itself.
Content type(s): Blog posts
December 2, 2021

The true value of money

By: Graham Iddon


Photo collage, old bank notes and coins, gold nuggets and a computer component.
What is money—when you really stop to think about it? To understand how money works, and what it ultimately represents, we need to strip it down to its very basic function.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy 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
November 16, 2021

The 1911 silver dollar

By: David Bergeron


In front of a set of coins in a case, two coins, one lead, one silver, each with identical wreaths of maple leaves.
The 1911 silver dollar has a history to match its prestige, and it now has a permanent home in the National Currency Collection of the Bank of Canada Museum.
Content type(s): Blog posts

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