Withdrawn Canadian banknotes
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Among Canadian currency, only five different banknotes are currently printed. Smaller denominations have been replaced by coins, and larger ones are felt to be no longer required in an era of electronic transmission of most large transactions. These defunct denominations are said to be withdrawn from circulation.
Currency withdrawn from circulation is still legal tender, though is usually disposed of by the Bank of Canada when it returns to their hands. As of April 2006, the 1986-series $5 and $10 bills are becoming increasingly rare in circulation in favour of their replacements; the $20, $50 and $100 from that series (which includes dates as late as 1992) are being visibly phased out, but are still common.
Withdrawn currency is usually exchanged at commercial bank branches, though some banks require that exchangers be bank customers, and then the bank presents the withdrawn currency to the Bank of Canada together with worn-out currency in the normal course of business.
Other denominations have been printed by the Bank of Canada since it was given sole authority over paper currency in 1935; listed below are the denominations they no longer produce.
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[edit] Twenty-five-cent bill
In 1870, in an effort to combat an influx of lesser-valued American currency the Dominion of Canada issued a 25 cent bill (commonly known as a "Shinplaster"). This was intended as a temporary measure, however these bills were reissued in 1900 and 1923. They were recalled by the then newly-formed Bank of Canada in 1935.
[edit] Four-dollar bill
In 1871, the Dominion of Canada began issuing $4 bills, and continued to do so from time to time until 1912 when they replaced them with $5 bills.
[edit] Twenty-five-dollar bill
In 1935, the Bank of Canada commemorated the silver jubilee of King George V with a special $25 note. As with other bills of the period, a version in each language was printed. This was a limited release that was never printed in large quantities.
The bill was coloured an appropriate royal purple; both the King and his consort Queen Mary were featured, with Windsor Castle appearing on the back.
[edit] Five-hundred-dollar bill
In its first banknote issue in 1935, the Bank of Canada printed a $500 bill. As with the $1000 bill, the $500 bill had two versions: one in English, one in French. No bill of this denomination has been printed since.
The bill was coloured sepia, or burnt sienna; the front featured Sir John A. Macdonald, and the back depicted a fertility allegory.
[edit] One-dollar bill
The $1 bill ceased printing in 1989 after the release of the loonie (in 1987) had been successful. These bills are virtually never seen in circulation today.
The most recent banknote series that included the $1 note was the 1969-1979 Series, "Scenes of Canada," with the $1 note released in 1974, coloured green. The front featured a portrait of the Queen; the back featured an image of Parliament Hill from across the Ottawa River, with logging activities taking place on the water.
[edit] Thousand-dollar bill
The $1,000 bills are no longer printed, but are still used by banks and casinos occasionally. The denomination was withdrawn in the early 2000s on the advice of the Solicitor General and the RCMP, as it was often used for money laundering. The bills were nicknamed "pinkies" due to their colour and association with organised crime.[1] One person could easily carry $1,000,000 in $1,000 bills.
The final version of the bill was released in 1992, and was reddish-purple in colour. The front featured a portrait of the Queen; the back featured a winter scene with two pine grosbeaks. As demand was low, the $1000 note was not produced in the 1969-79 series; the 1954 series continued to be issued instead.
[edit] Two-dollar bill
The $2 bill ceased printing in 1996 on the release of the toonie, which replaced it after a few years. Some are still seen, but they are very rare in general circulation.
The most recent banknote series that included the $2 note was released in 1986 (the "Birds of Canada" series), in which the two was a terra-cotta colour. The front featured a portrait of the Queen; the back featured a meadow scene with two robins.
It should be noted that unlike the American $2 note, the Canadian version saw very wide circulation, especially once the $1 note was withdrawn.
[edit] 1954 "Devil's Head" Series
The 1954 series of bills caused controversy when people claimed to notice a "Devil's Head" in the Queen's hair. In 1956, the Bank of Canada revised the notes slightly, issuing a version with darker highlights in the Queen's hair. The "Devil's Head" notes were not withdrawn, and were allowed to circulate for their full lifetime. The "Devil's Head" was copied from the original photograph of the Queen, and thus is likely a case of pareidolia.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Canadian banknotes and coins |
| Topics: Bank of Canada | Canadian dollar | Commemorative coins | Royal Canadian Mint |
| Canadian banknotes: $5 | $10 | $20 | $50 | $100 | Withdrawn banknotes |
| Canadian coinage: 1¢ | 5¢ | 10¢ | 25¢ | 50¢ | $1 (Loonie) | $2 (Toonie) |
