Sorry about the scarcity of blog posts … I have been working on the Real Banknotes website for quite a while and, with the exception of China, all banknotes, values, and nearly 10,000 images have been added. I don’t know when I’m going to get a chance to take a crack at the listings for China, but I’m quite happy to have gotten to this point.

Anyways, a little while back I was on a Canadian banknote binge. I paid quite a few dollars for quite a few banknotes. One of the last that I purchased from that country was a two dollar bill from 1923, featuring Edward the Prince of Wales: pick 34e. Ofcourse, Edward ended up king and was featured on the entire 1937 series of Canadian paper money. However, this banknote is from when his father, George V was still running the show. Anyways, this banknote is only in VG condition, but at least I didn’t pay an arm and a leg for it.

Canadian $2 dollar bill from 1923 featuring Edward, the Prince of Wales

I have recently purchased a Canadian banknote from 1917. It is a one dollar bill featuring the portrait of Princess Patricia Ramsey (Princess of Connaught) at center on the face side of the banknote. Generally Canadian banknotes are dominated by portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and King’s George VI and George V. Generally, these banknotes are valued at slightly above face value, except in UNC condition. This banknote, however, features royalty that even Canadian’s don’t recognize, which makes them very interesting articles, and great investments. This one is in VG-F condition, and was purchased for $33.00.

Canada 32d: $1 from 1917

Just prior to King George the VI’s issue of banknotes in 1937, there was in issue created in 1935. This series featured many of the members of the royal family, and the $1 bill features King George V at left. According to the local coin and currency shop, these 1935 issue banknotes are becoming quite scarce, and so I have picked up what I can afford: a few of the $1 bills. These bills tend to sell for $25-$50 in VG-F condition on eBay. Higher denominations are exponentially more pricey. Grab what you can! (just my humble opinion).

Canada p38: 1 Dollar from 1935

I generally do not purchase Canadian banknotes being that they are not particularly pretty, they are expensive because of the exchange rate, and because for the most part they are not great investments. Almost all of my Canadian banknotes have been purchased at face value, even notes from the 1954 and 1937 issues. My latest purchase, however, is an exception in more ways than one. First, it is a banknote from 1898 and, second, I paid 68 times the face value for it, even though it is in VG condition.

The banknote is a 1 dollar bill which features portraits of the Countess and Earl of Aberdeen, and lumberjacks at center. It is this center picture that really appealed to me, and the fact that I have never seen this banknote before. Maybe a good investment? Only time will tell …

Canada p24Ab: 1898 1 Dollar Bill

Fractional issues of Canadian paper money are referred to as shinplaster notes. These shinplaster notes are composed of p8-p11 with several signature varieties of each. They are all twenty five cent notes dated as 1870, 1900 and 1923 (last two issues) respectively. Most of these notes are in quite the circulated condition, generally rated as VG-F, though I have seen a few VF notes up for auction on eBay. I remember these notes selling for $2-$5 not too long ago, but their base price has more than doubled. Very seldom can you find one of these for less than $10USD, and most commonly the F-VF ones sell for $12-18USD or more (I have seen some go for upwards of $30). That is why I am happy to add this beat up old note to my collection, seeing as I bought it for $2.34:

Almost any banknote featuring King George VI is of some value. The following banknote is not in the greatest of conditions, but most of the 1937 notes with a denomination of $5 or more are, eventually if not now, are good investments. So I could not resist bidding on this $10 note — throw in free shipping and I’m sold!

$20.50USD for this one, but she’s a beauty!

Canada $10 from 1937 -- front.

Canada $10 from 1937 -- back.

As some of you may or may not know, in 1954 the Bank of Canada produced an issue of banknotes, from $1 to $1000, which came to be known as the Devil’s Head issue of banknotes. These bills featured the face of Queen Elizabeth II on the right hand side of the face. Ofcourse, the Queen herself was not the devil being addressed here. The Devil’s Head feature of this banknote is featured in her hair. Can you find it on the banknote below?

Canadian $10 bill from 1954, pick 69a

Well, if you weren’t able to find it, I have circled it here:

Canadian p69a, featuring the Devil's Face

Regardless of the circling, pointing, and explaining, however, a lot of people still have a hard time seeing this Devil’s face. Probably something to do with pre-conceived notions. So I have decided to take the mystery out of the face altogether. To avoid any confusion and debate, I have colored in the face for all to see:

Devils Head Revealed

After this printing mishap(?) the Bank of Canada re-issued the series, with some modifications to the highlights of the Queen’s hair, and so the banknotes were fixed. Anyways, maybe I am bad at explaining things, but I hope this clears up the mystery for those who I tried to show in person, and who still left confused as to the face.