World Paper Money Value and Identification Guide




Paper Money Values - Canada

Modern Canada came into being in 1867 when the Constitution Act united the initial four provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick under the Canadian Confederation. In 1868 the Dominion Notes Act authorized the issue of government banknotes and the Uniform Currency Act established that Canadian currency would be denominated in dollars, cents and mills. The first government paper money was issued in 1870 and included a 25-cent note nicknamed the shinplaster, along with 1 and 2 dollar notes. Issues of chartered banks and municipalities continued for decades. The Bank of Canada began operation in 1935. Beginning in 1944 the chartered banks were no longer allowed to issue notes and the Bank of Canada become the sole issuer of Canadian paper money.

1870 Fractional Issues

Canada Paper Money 25 Cents Shinplaster 1870
Canada Paper Money 25 Cents Shinplaster 1870

  • Denomination: 25 Cents Shinplaster
  • Issue Date: 1870
  • Reference: 8a
  • Authority: Dominion of Canada Ministry of Finance
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Britannia with Spear
  • Signatures: Dickinson & Harington
  • Grade: VF 30 - PMG
  • Note: Minor Pinholes
  • Sale Date: Dec. 2019
  • Price: $338.44
  • Grade: G/VG - Seller Graded
  • Sale Date: Feb. 2020
  • Price: $22.56



1878 Issue

Canada Paper Money 1 Dollar 1878
Canada Paper Money 1 Dollar 1878

  • Denomination: 1 Dollar
  • Issue Date: 1878
  • Reference: 18a
  • Authority: Dominion of Canada Ministry of Finance
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Countess of Dufferin
  • Back: Seal of Queen Victoria - PAYABLE AT MONTREAL
  • Signatures: Harington
  • Grade: VF 25 - PMG
  • Sale Date: Nov. 2019
  • Price: $1609.45

1897-1900 Issue

Canada Paper Money 1 Dollar 1898
Canada Paper Money 1 Dollar 1898

  • Denomination: 1 Dollar
  • Issue Date: 1898
  • Reference: 24
  • Series: D-K - ONEs Outward
  • Authority: Dominion of Canada Ministry of Finance
  • Printer: American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Countess and Earl of Aberdeen - Lumberjacks
  • Back: Parliament Building
  • Signatures: J.M. Courtney
  • Grade: VF 25 - PMG
  • Note: Stained
  • Sale Date: Feb. 2020
  • Price: $169.50

1912-1914 Issue

Canada Paper Money 2 Dollars 1914
Canada Paper Money 2 Dollars 1914

  • Denomination: 2 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1914
  • Reference: 30b
  • Variation: Straight (vs curved) Will Pay
  • Authority: Dominion of Canada Ministry of Finance
  • Printer: American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Duke and Duchess of Connaught
  • Back: Nine Provincial Shields Around Royal Arms
  • Signatures: T.C. Boville
  • Grade: VF 30 - PMG
  • Note: Pinholes
  • Sale Date: Jan. 2020
  • Price: $775.43

1923-1924 Issue

Canada Paper Money 1 Dollar 1923
Canada Paper Money 1 Dollar 1923

  • Denomination: 1 Dollar
  • Issue Date: 1923
  • Reference: 33n
  • Variation: Group 3 - Black Seal
  • Authority: Dominion of Canada Ministry of Finance
  • Printer: Canadian Bank Note Company
  • Front: King George V
  • Back: Library of Parliament - Ottawa
  • Signatures: Campbell & Sellar
  • Grade: VF - Seller Graded
  • Sale Date: Feb. 2020
  • Price: $84.95

1937 Issue

Canada Paper Money 10 Dollars 1937
Canada Paper Money 10 Dollars 1937

  • Denomination: 10 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1937
  • Reference: 61a
  • Authority: Bank of Canada / Banque du Canada
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: King George VI
  • Back: Mercury - Ships - Trains
  • Signatures: J.A.C Osborne & G.G. Towers
  • Grade: VF 25 - PMG
  • Sale Date: Jan. 2020
  • Price: $250.00

Canada Paper Money 10 Dollars 1937
Canada Paper Money 10 Dollars 1937

  • Denomination: 10 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1937
  • Reference: 61c
  • Authority: Bank of Canada / Banque du Canada
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: King George VI
  • Back: Mercury - Ships - Trains
  • Signatures: Coyne & Towers
  • Grade: EU/AU - Seller Graded
  • Sale Date: Feb. 2020
  • Price: $50.77

1954 Devil's Face Notes

Canada Paper Money 2 Dollars 1954
Canada Paper Money 2 Dollars 1954

  • Denomination: 2 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1954
  • Reference: 67b
  • Authority: Bank of Canada / Banque du Canada
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Queen Elizabeth II
  • Back: Rural Scene
  • Signatures: Beattie & Coyne
  • Grade: VF 25 - BCS
  • Sale Date: Jan. 2020
  • Price: $71.63

1954-1987 Modified Hair Style Issue

Canada Paper Money 5 Dollars 1954
Canada Paper Money 5 Dollars 1954

  • Denomination: 5 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1954
  • Reference: 78
  • Authority: Bank of Canada / Banque du Canada
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Queen Elizabeth II
  • Back: Otter Falls
  • Signatures: Beattie & Coyne
  • Grade: Ungraded
  • Sale Date: Jan. 2020
  • Price: $49.00

1979 Issue

Canada Paper Money 20 Dollars 1979
Canada Paper Money 20 Dollars 1979

  • Denomination: 20 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1979
  • Reference: 93c
  • Authority: Bank of Canada / Banque du Canada
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Queen Elizabeth II
  • Back: Lake Moraine - Rocky Mountains (Alberta)
  • Signatures: Thiessen & Crow
  • Grade: VF - Seller Graded
  • Sale Date: Feb. 2020
  • Price: $12.50

Home Bank of Canada - 1904 -1920 Issue

Canada Paper Money 5 Dollars 1904
Canada Paper Money 5 Dollars 1904

  • Denomination: 5 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1904
  • Reference: S1087a
  • Authority: Home Bank of Canada
  • Printer: American Bank Note Company
  • Front: Major-General Sir Isaac Brock - Allegorical Woman Seated with Ships in the Background
  • Back: Children Reading
  • Signatures: E. O'Keefe
  • Grade: VF - PMG
  • Note: Stains
  • Sale Date: Feb. 2020
  • Price: $3,600.00

Merchants Bank of Canada 1906-1907 Issue

Canada Paper Money 5 Dollars 1906
Canada Paper Money 5 Dollars 1906

  • Denomination: 5 Dollars
  • Issue Date: 1906
  • Reference: S1160
  • Authority: Merchants Bank of Canada
  • Printer: British American Bank Note Company
  • Front: River Boat Pilot - Steamship - H. Montagu Allan
  • Back: Beavers
  • Signatures: H.M. Allan
  • Grade: Choice Fine 15 - PMG
  • Note: Stains
  • Sale Date: Feb. 2020
  • Price: $996.50