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New reproduction techniques available to counterfeiters encouraged the production of a new series of notes with reflective elements and simpler designs that would make printing defects more apparent- birds are also politically neutral.

Counterfeiters were catching up and new approaches were needed to foil them; the layering of multiple colours and elegant swashes of geometric patterns were the key design features of this series.

A completely new approach to Canadian note design was undertaken after the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, one that was representative of a Canadian vision of itself.

The release of this partly re-designed series of notes was prompted by the death of King George V in 1936 and new legislation requiring bilingual notes.

Though not designed or produced by the Bank of Canada, this series was the first to be issued by our new central bank— going into circulation on the day it opened.

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.

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

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.

Who likes money? We do, and lots of it. And here is your window to our enormous collection of currency and currency-related artifacts.

24 July - 13 December 2009
Broken Coins and Paper Promises explored the various functions of money and also illustrated what could happen in the absence of a central issuing authority like the Bank of Canada.