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

    Plan your visit

    Here's what you need to know, how to make the most of your visit and where to find us.

    Winterlude 2023

    Winterlude Weekends 2023

    From February 3 to 20, 2023: Join us every Saturday and Sunday throughout Winterlude for interactive family activities!

  • Explore

    Exhibitions

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

    Blog

    Collection

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

    Teaching art with currency

    From design to final product, bank notes and coins can be used to explore and teach art, media and process.

  • 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.

    A triangular object with a translucent background.

    The Bank of Canada Museum’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics

    We want to celebrate great teaching about the economy. Learn more about the award, submit a nomination, and meet the 2022 winners.

  • Home
  • The Museum Blog

Unpacking the Collection 4

By: Paul S. Berry


February 8, 2017

Japanese hansatsu: bookmark money

Often referred to as “bookmark money” because of their narrow, vertical format, Japanese hansatsu are among the world’s most distinctive currencies. The name of the notes is derived from the territories (han) of cash-starved local feudal lords (daimyos) who, when faced with meagre revenues, issued their own paper notes (satsu) in place of precious metal coins.

From the early days of the Tokugawa Shoganate (the feudal military government) in the 17th century until the mid-19th century, thousands of these notes were issued by nobles, towns, religious groups, companies and merchants. In an attempt to promote its own coinage, the central government banned the issue of hansatsu in 1707, nearly financially ruining the daimyos. The government abolished the ban in 1730.

Designs printed on the notes included images of local flora and fauna such as chrysanthemums and storks. Other notes featured waves (nami) and mythical figures such as Diakoku, the god of wealth. He is shown seated atop two bags of grain—early bartering items in Japan. Notes were denominated in weights of gold (kin), silver (gin) or copper (dö). Sometimes they even represented such differing commodities as charcoal or umbrellas.

With the end of feudal military rule and the restoration of the monarchy in 1867, most private notes were pulled from circulation. Though significantly devalued, some notes issued by more financially solvent groups remained in circulation until the government was able to supply adequate quantities of coins. It wasn’t until 1879 that the last of the hansatsu were replaced by government issued notes. The first paper currency issued by the new government resembled hansatsu but was later replaced by notes of a decidedly more Western appearance.

1870: Japan, Han note, Kanazawa domain, 50 mon. ‘Mon’ was a currency unit while ‘momme’ was a unit of weight. (NCC 1966.131.050)

1868: Japan, Government note “Dajokansatsu”, 5 gold momme. (NCC 1966.131.044)

1866: Japan, rice note issued by a temple, Mangan-ji, 1 silver momme. (NCC 1965.003.346)

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

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

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