Collections

Who likes money?

We do, and lots of it. And here is the place to see it. This is your window to our enormous collection of currency and currency-related artifacts. At this time, the collection count has gone over 120,000 items and includes the world’s most complete collection of Canadian currency. You won’t be able to access it all yet, but every week we are adding images and fascinating artifact histories as quickly as our longsuffering photographers and curators can produce them. You will also be able to find academic articles and research here, written and assembled by our highly informed Collections team.

 

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Collection Highlights

June 25, 2014

5 Cents: Canada, 1943

The beaver briefly disappeared from our nickel during World War II. So did the nickel typically used in minting the coin, a consequence of wartime rationing of the metal.
June 25, 2014

1 Cent, Framed: Canada, 1908

In January of 1908, Countess Grey, wife of the Governor General, inaugurated the new Canadian branch plant of the Royal Mint by ceremonially striking a one-cent piece- the first produced in Canada.
June 25, 2014

$10 Bill, Bank of Montreal: Canada, 1859

As the nineteenth century advanced, measures taken to foil counterfeiters became increasingly sophisticated.
June 25, 2014

1 Cent Piece: Province of Canada, 1858

In 1858 the Province of Canada (Québec and Ontario) officially bid farewell to the pounds and shillings of its British superiors, choosing a decimal base for its first coin issue.

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Search the Collection

Looking for specific items in our Collection? Here you will be able to access all of the items in our Collection that have been digitized so far.

About the Collection

Boasting more than 110,000 artifacts, our collection includes currency from around the world and from all historical periods.

Upcoming changes to legal tender status for older bank notes

Find out what removing legal tender status means and which bank notes are affected.

Complete Bank Note Series

This is the Bank of Canada’s portfolio. We’re very proud of it. Every denomination from every series on up to today can be found here.

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