Bank of Canada banknotes price guide and values - Coins and Canada

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Bank of Canada banknotes price guide and values

In 1934, the newly created Bank of Canada was given the responsibility, through an Act of Parliament, to regulate the country's money supply and to promote the economic and financial welfare of Canada.

The new central bank was also given the exclusive right to issue bank notes in Canada. In 1944, it was forbidden for Canadian Chartered banks to issue banknotes. Below, the list of chartered banks that merged with the Royal Bank of Canada.

The value of a Bank of Canada banknote depends on several factors such as rarity, quality and wear, mintage, supply and demand, etc.

Search by serial number

This section will help you to find the value of your Bank of Canada banknotes. Through the various list below, it's also possible to read descriptions of the different series from 1935 to today. This simple guide will help to determine the value of any Bank of Canada banknote.


Canadian banknotes from 2018 to 2022

On January 9, 2020, Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz says the central bank is working on plans for a new 5-dollars banknote. The consultations are similar to those that led to the choice of Viola Desmond for the 10-dollars banknote. Once the new portrait subject has been selected, the bank note design process will begin. All we know right now is that it will be a polymer note with a vertical design.

The 10 dollars banknote launched in 2018 shows Viola Desmond, icon of the human rights and freedoms movement in Canada. A successful Nova Scotia businesswoman, she defiantly refused to leave a whites-only area of a movie theatre in 1946 and was subsequently jailed, convicted and fined. Her court case was one of the first known legal challenges against racial segregation brought forth by a Black woman in Canada.

Canadian banknotes from 2018 to 2022 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes from 2018 to 2022


Canadian 10 dollars banknotes of 2017

Commemorative $10 banknote celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation. This banknote was presented at a ceremony held on April 7, 2017 at the headquarters of the Bank in Ottawa and was put into circulation on June 1st of the same year.

Canadian 10 dollars banknotes of 2017 values and prices »

Canadian 10 dollars banknotes of 2017


Canadian 20 dollars banknotes of 2015

This commemorative banknote is a variant of the $20 regular polymer one. It was put into circulation in the fall of 2015. The Bank of Canada issued 40 millions of these.

Canadian 20 dollars banknotes of 2015 values and prices »

Canadian 20 dollars banknotes of 2015


Canadian banknotes from 2011 to 2020

This is the first time that a series of Canadian bank notes are printed on any material but paper. Bank notes printed on polymer are already in circulation elsewhere. Internationally, the first non-paper notes were produced on a polyethylene material called Tyvek and issued in three countries in the early 1980s. Canada's new notes are unlike other polymer notes, however.

Canadian banknotes from 2011 to 2020 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes from 2011 to 2020


Canadian banknotes from 2004 to 2011

The Bank issued the new $100 bill in March, the $20 note in September, and the $50 note in November of 2004. As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the security of Canadian bank notes, the Bank of Canada issued a $10 note with upgraded security features on 18 May 2005 and completed the series with an upgraded $5 note on 15 November 2006.

Canadian banknotes from 2004 to 2011 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes from 2004 to 2011


Canadian banknotes from 2001 to 2004

In 2001, the Bank introduced the new $10 note from the Canadian Journey series, followed by the $5 note in 2002. Notes in the new series are distinguished by new and enhanced security features to help fight counterfeiting and a tactile feature to help the blind and visually impaired identify the different denominations.

Canadian banknotes from 2001 to 2004 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes from 2001 to 2004


Canadian banknotes from 1986 to 1991

The 1986 series of bank notes, often referred to as the "Birds of Canada" series, was designed with enhanced security features to counter developments in colour-copier technology.

Canadian banknotes from 1986 to 1991 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes from 1986 to 1991


Canadian banknotes of 1979

$5 and $20 banknotes issued in 1979 looks like banknotes 1969 to 1975 except that the serial numbers can be found on the bottom of the opposite side of the banknote.

Canadian banknotes of 1979 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes of 1979


Canadian banknotes from 1969 to 1975

Because of a growing concern over counterfeiting, the Bank of Canada began to release a new series of bank notes in 1969. This series represented another complete departure in design from earlier issues.

Canadian banknotes from 1969 to 1975 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes from 1969 to 1975


Canadian 1 dollar banknotes of 1967

In honour of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, a modified version of the 1954 $1 note was issued, bearing the date 1967. The centennial logo was added to the front of the note and a view of Canada's original Parliament Buildings, destroyed by fire in 1916, was substituted for the prairie landscape that appeared on the original 1954 $1 note.

Canadian 1 dollar banknotes of 1967 values and prices »

Canadian 1 dollar banknotes of 1967


Canadian banknotes of 1954 modified portrait

The third series of Bank of Canada bank notes was prepared in 1952. Significant changes to the design of Canada's paper currency gave it a whole new look that set the standard for the future. These banknotes were very different from the 1937 series, although the colours and bilingual nature were retained.

Canadian banknotes of 1954 modified portrait values and prices »

Canadian banknotes of 1954 modified portrait


Canadian banknotes of 1954 with the devil's face

This series caused controversy because highlighted areas of the Queen's hair gave the illusion of a grinning demon behind the ear. The term "Devil's Head" is commonly used to describe these bank notes. The Bank of Canada had both bank note companies modify the face plates by darkening the highlights in the hair. These modifications were made in 1956 for all denominations.

Canadian banknotes of 1954 with the devil's face values and prices »

Canadian banknotes of 1954 with the devil's face


Canadian banknotes of 1937

The creation of a second series of bank notes, only two years after the first issue, was prompted by changes in Canadian government legislation requiring the Bank of Canada to produce bilingual bank notes. Another contributing factor was the death of King George V on 20 January 1936 and the subsequent abdication of Edward VIII.

Canadian banknotes of 1937 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes of 1937


Canadian banknotes of 1935

The Bank of Canada was created in 1934 and given responsibility, through an Act of Parliament, to regulate the country's money supply and to "promote the economic and financial welfare of Canada." Accordingly, it was given the exclusive right to issue bank notes in Canada. On 11 March 1935, the Bank of Canada issued its first series of bank notes.

Canadian banknotes of 1935 values and prices »

Canadian banknotes of 1935

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