1935 Bank of Canada $20 HRH Princess Elizabeth Small Seal Bill Note (BCS graded F15)

1935 Bank of Canada $20 HRH Princess Elizabeth Small Seal Bill Note (BCS graded F15)

1935 - The First Banknote Series

The Bank of Canada was founded 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 also given the exclusive right to issue bank notes. On 11 March 1935, the Bank of Canada issued its first series.

The notes were unilingual, and matching versions of all denominations were available in either French or English. Also unique to the series were a $25 and a $500 note. The series featured portraits of various royals and former Canadian prime ministers. On the backs of the notes were allegorical figures symbolizing Canada's growing agricultural, industrial, and commercial prosperity.

Design

Printed by Canadian Bank Note Company Ltd., the $20 note features a portrait of 8-year-old Princess Elizabeth (granddaughter of King George V). The engraving for the note, completed by Edwin Gunn of American Bank Note Company, was based on a Marcus Adams photograph of the princess. The image on the back, based on a painting by Alonzo Foringer, shows two allegorical figures representing toil.

Packaging

1935 Bank of Canada $20 HRH Princess Elizabeth Small Seal Bill Note (VG) comes in clear protective holder in titled condition.

Specifications

Face Value: 20 dollars
Quantity Printed: 802,700
Serial Prefix: A
Cat. No.: BC-9a
Variety: English (Small Seal)
Printer: Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN)
Signatures: Osborne/Towers