1937 Bank of Canada $2 Bilingual Series Bill Note Gordon/Coyne-Towers (VF)

1937 Bank of Canada $2 Bilingual Series Bill Note

1937 First Fully Bilingual Banknote Series

The 1937 issue of banknotes signalled the first time Canadian banknotes were fully bilingual, meaning there was no longer a need to produce separate English and French language notes.
You will notice that the denominations and text on the left half of the note are in English, while the right half of each note is in French.

A second major change that began with this issue is related to Sheet Numbers and Check Letters. Every generation of Canadian banknotes to date used an identical "sheet number" on all notes, and added a "check letter" to differentiate the notes on each sheet.
Starting in 1937 each note received a unique "serial number", which eliminated the need to add check letters.

A two letter prefix was added to each serial number (expressed as a fraction). The upper character designates the series while the lower letter was assigned to that denomination.
Each set of ten million notes were given a different series letter. Twenty different series letters were approved for use, so a total of 200 million possible notes could be printed for each denomination letter.
If more notes were required, a second (or third or fourth) denomination letter was used, and both the series letter and serial number sequences were re-started.

Design

The 1937 notes continued with the industry allegory themes introduced in the 1935 series. Pictured is a portrait of King George VI. 

On the reverse, the two dollar bill depicts a harvest allegory symbolizing the mercantile industry with a woman seated surrounded symbols of bounty and harvest.

Packaging

1937 Bank of Canada $2 Bilingual Series Bill Note comes in a protective clear plastic holder in the titled condition.
Note: The photo of this item is a stock image only.

Specifications

Face Value: 2 dollars
Quantity Printed: 80,000,000
Serial Prefix: A/R - K/R
Cat. No.: BC-22c
Signatures: Coyne/Towers