2001-2006: The Canadian Journey Series

By the late 1990s, security printing firms were under siege by counterfeiters with advanced and affordable digital reproduction devices. It was a new counterfeiting climate, demanding new tools. So, the Bank of Canada adopted a new design strategy in 2002, and the Canadian Journey series became the first Canadian notes designed wholly on computers. One person executed the overall designs: Canadian Bank Note Company art director Jorge Peral. This could only be accomplished with the computer’s ability to provide multiple versions of a design quickly and easily.

It was also the first series to involve Canadian citizens in the choice of note themes. The Bank convened many focus groups to decide what values or achievements most reflected the Canadian experience. And these elements—from the arts to winter fun to women’s suffrage—adorned the backs of the notes. At the time, it was considered to be the most Canadian of our note series.

Engraving and intaglio printing were still important aspects of this series. They give bank notes their traditional look and feel. However, the main counterfeit defenses were no longer in the intricacy or perfection of the engraving but in applied features such as metal threads, holograms, ghost images, puzzle numbers, shifting colour metallic stripes and hidden aspects only detectable under ultraviolet light.

Features also included tactile details designed to make the notes easily distinguishable by the visually impaired. A series of braille-like raised dots along the top right edge identified each denomination. These are very difficult to forge, adding yet another counterfeiting stumbling block.

Security

How to check notes

Canadian Journey notes (2004–2006)

Checking security features on bank notes is simple to do. But if you have doubts when verifying any note, ask for another one.

The Canadian Journey $20, $50 and $100 notes were introduced in 2004, and the $5 and $10 notes were upgraded in 2005–2006 so that the same suite of security features appears on all five denominations.

1. Metallic stripe

Tilt the note. The numbers and maple leaves change colour.

2. Ghost image

Hold the note up to the light and look through it. A small, ghost-like image of the portrait appears. It is visible from both sides of the note.

3. Dashes

Hold the note up to the light and look through it. The dashes form a solid line. It is visible from both sides of the note.

Tilt the note. The dashes shift from gold to green. Small characters (e.g., CAN 20) match the note’s value.

4. Puzzle number

Hold the note up to the light and look through it. Irregular marks on the front and back of the note form a complete number. It is visible from both sides of the note.

5. Raised ink

Feel the raised ink on the shoulders of the portrait, the large number, and the words “Bank of Canada • Banque du Canada.”

6. UV feature

Look at the note under UV (ultraviolet) light. Check that the text BANK OF CANADA – BANQUE DU CANADA and a number matching the note’s value glow in interlocking red and yellow. Red and yellow fibres are scattered on both sides of the note.

Tip

Don’t rely solely on this feature. Always look at two or more features when checking notes.

Original Canadian Journey $5 and $10 notes (2001–2002)

The original $5 and $10 notes of the Canadian Journey series (2001-2002) had different security features that did not include a metallic stripe, ghost image, dashes, or a puzzle number.

1. Maple leaves

Tilt the note. Three maple leaves shift from pale to shiny gold.

2. Hidden number

Slightly tilt the note at eye level. The number 5 or 10 appears.

3. Raised ink

Feel the raised ink on the shoulders of the portrait, the large number 5 or 10, and the words “Bank of Canada • Banque du Canada.”

4. UV feature

Look at the note under UV (ultraviolet) light. The coat of arms and the words FIVE ● CINQ (or DIX ● TEN) and BANK OF CANADA – BANQUE DU CANADA glow in blue over the portrait. Red fibres are scattered on both sides of the note.

Tip

Don’t rely solely on this feature. Always look at two or more features when checking notes.

Explore each note