Just updated my profile to include an avatar - the back of the 1954 Canadian $1. Reason I chose it is an experience I had driving across the Canadian prairie in 1973. Somewhere in the middle of Saskatchewan there was a billboard with the same image. Idea was to stop, pull out a dollar bill, and marvel that the image on the dollar bill was exactly the same as the road ahead of you. It was - pretty amazing. Until we drove about 100 miles (we had still miles in Canada back in the 70’s), and stopped again, pulled out the dollar bill, and guess what? It still looked exactly the same. Moral of the story is that there’s an awful lot of prairie out there, and it while all looks pretty much the same, it was on the money in my pocket. Great memory of a great road trip, and every time I see an old Canadian dollar bill, I remember that day. Anybody else have any paper money with an image that brings back this kind of memory?
Pretty sure my avatar won't expand, so I scanned a similar note from my collection. As I look at it, it seems I was on a paved road, the note shows a gravel road. Maybe time playing tricks on memories?
I'm baised, being Canadian, but I think the 1954 series with QEII and the 1937 series with George VI are as nice as notes get. Before they included all the anti-counterfeiting features, they looked and felt like money. Canadian money is very attactive today, but probably too cluttered with anti-counterfeiting features to reach the same artistic level. And a confession. Until I joined Coin Talk, I thought US notes were fairly boring -all the same. Some of the examples on this board and the discussions about the notes have me seeing a whole different dimension to US notes. I may have to expand my horizons.
Hi Bob, Welcome to CT! Great thread and I loved your story! I've always enjoyed this vignette and I agree with you on the earlier Series of Canadian notes being as nice as they get. Below is the only Canadian note I own. It has always remained as a window onto the natural beauty of Canada for me because the person who gave it to me said much the same as you have about the expansive landscape in the Canadian prairie. My note is not in the best condition but it was given to me by family who traveled to Canada many years ago so I kept it all my numismatic-life and glad I did because I started getting heavily into paper money in the last 8-10 months, and I love it.
I, too, am Canadian and I never thought much of the design of our paper money until recently when I began to collect it. I guess with growing up with it, it was strictly utilitarian in my mind. But now, I'm seeing the beauty in the different series' from the past. I love the bird issue and have begun putting together a collection of those. I have the uncut $2 sheet (birds) and also have the $1 sheet coming (1973). I have a whole new appreciation for our paper money.
If you liked our prairie, you will love this! This is the back of the 1975 $50 - probably the prettiest vignette ever on Canadian money, featuring the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride. The RCMP is the symbol of Canada for many visitors, and the Musical Ride still performs and tours, even in a time of government restraints and cutbacks. The note is from the “multi-coloured” series (originating 1969-1975, different issue dates for each denomination). I would consider the series “artistically challenged” but the back of the $50 is a classic. The riders are in what is called the dome formation. It’s sometimes called the “Newfoundland Firing Squad”. Before I get flamed, I have family in Newfoundland, and they know it’s a joke, OK? This one is at 300 dpi, so a little more detail. Hope you like it as much as I do.
That is really funny Bob! I wasn't familiar with this note myself, so it's great to see. Thanks for the background info.
well how about that! It seems to work both ways, sometimes when I read posts from collectors and they express their appreciation of some coin or currency it must be contagious, cause I start to pick up some of the things I used to not be interested in. Your avatar is definitely one note that I will be looking for, and if the price is right...
