Canadian five-dollar note A Comprehensive Guide to the Currency

The Canadian five-dollar note is a widely used currency in the country, but have you ever wondered what makes it unique? The Bank of Canada, the central bank of Canada, is responsible for designing and issuing the currency.

The Canadian five-dollar note is made of polymer, a durable and long-lasting material that is resistant to wear and tear. This design was introduced in 2011 as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paper currency.

One of the most distinctive features of the Canadian five-dollar note is the portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada, who served from 1896 to 1911.

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The Canadian five-dollar note has undergone several design changes over the years. The standard circulation banknotes were issued by the Bank of Canada from 2001 to 2005, featuring a rectangular shape and paper composition.

The series "Canadian Journey" and "Frontiers" have distinct designs, with the "Canadian Journey" series using a rectangular shape and paper composition, while the "Frontiers" series features a polymer composition and a slightly smaller size of 152.4 × 69.85 mm.

The obverse of the Canadian five-dollar note typically features a portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, a statesman and Prime Minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911, along with a front view of the West Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.

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The obverse of a Canadian $5 banknote is a vital part of its design, featuring a mix of images, text, and security features.

The obverse of the note typically includes the portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada's seventh Prime Minister from 1896 to 1911, and the first Francophone to hold this position. This portrait is often accompanied by a front view of the West Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, with a legend to the right.

The text on the obverse is usually in both English and French, with the issuing institute and the coat of arms of Canada prominently displayed on the left side. The note's face value is also clearly stated, with the denomination "5" appearing below the legend.

The Canadian flag is often featured above the face value, and the multicoloured printing is dominated by blue and yellow hues.

Here are some common security features found on the obverse of Canadian $5 banknotes:

These features are designed to prevent counterfeiting and ensure the authenticity of the banknote.

The polymer notes in Canada's currency are a unique feature. You can actually see a watermark on the $5 bill that says "5 5 5 5 CANADA 5 5 5 5 5" in the polymer window.

In 2020, a list of eight Canadians was shortlisted to replace Wilfrid Laurier on the $5 polymer bill. The nominees included Terry Fox, Crowfoot, Pitseolak Ashoona, Robertine Barry, Binaaswi, Won Alexander Cumyow, Lotta Hitschmanova, and Fred Loft.

Terry Fox's image will eventually replace Laurier's on the $5 bill, with Laurier's image being used for the $50 note when a new design is implemented.

The $5 polymer bill is part of Canada's circulating currency, which includes both coins and banknotes.

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The Canadian five-dollar note has a rich history that spans over 80 years. The first series, the 1935 Series, was introduced in 1935 with a main colour of orange and featured Edward, Prince of Wales on the obverse.

The design of the Canadian five-dollar note has undergone significant changes over the years. In 1937, the 1937 Series was introduced, featuring George VI on the obverse and a blue main colour.

Here's a brief summary of the major series:

The Frontier series of Canadian banknotes is a significant milestone in the evolution of currency design. Introduced in 2013, these notes feature advanced security features.

The most recent five-dollar note, part of the Frontier series, is predominantly blue and was introduced on November 7, 2013. It uses the same technology as other notes in the series.

Canada's seventh prime minister, Wilfrid Laurier, is featured on the front of the note, alongside a hologram of the Mackenzie Tower from the West Block on Parliament Hill.

The Journey Note is a significant part of Canadian currency history, featuring Wilfrid Laurier on its front side. Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada, serving from 1896 to 1911.

The note's design also includes the coat of arms and a picture of the West Block of the Parliament buildings. This is a nod to Canada's rich history and government institutions.

On the reverse side, the note showcases children engaged in winter sports, including sledding, ice skating, and hockey. This image is accompanied by a quote from Roch Carrier's short story, "The Hockey Sweater".

The quote highlights the significance of hockey in Canadian culture, with Carrier's story being a classic example of the sport's impact on Canadian identity. The image also features a girl hockey player wearing a hockey sweater number 9 to honour Maurice Richard, a Canadian hockey legend.

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The Canadian $5 bill has undergone significant changes over the years. The most recent note in the Frontier series, introduced in 2013, features a portrait of Canada's seventh prime minister, Wilfrid Laurier.

The Frontier series note includes a hologram of the Mackenzie Tower from the West Block on Parliament Hill on the front and an astronaut working with Dextre attached to the Canadarm2 on the back. Security features include "Bank of Canada" and "Banque du Canada" visible only under ultraviolet light.

In 2020, a short-list of eight "bank NOTE-able" Canadians was selected to be portrayed on the $5 vertical polymer bills in place of Laurier. This list included notable individuals such as Terry Fox and Crowfoot.

However, in 2023, it was reported that Laurier will stay on the five-dollar bill for some time. The decision to replace Laurier's image was eventually made, with Terry Fox's image being chosen to replace Laurier's on the next edition of the $5 banknote.

The image on the "Scenes of Canada" Canadian $5 dollar bill features Allen Chickite, a lifelong professional fisher from the We Wai Kai Nation of Quadra Island.

The Canadian Journey series has seen many changes over the years. The first series, the 1935 Series, featured Edward, Prince of Wales on the obverse side, and was issued on March 11, 1935.

The 1937 Series followed, with George VI on the obverse side and a blue main colour. This series was issued on July 19, 1937. The 1954 Series, also with a blue main colour, featured Elizabeth II on the obverse side and was issued on September 9, 1954.

Here's a brief overview of the series history:

The 1979 withdrawal date for the Scenes of Canada series was October 1, 1979, and it was re-issued on April 28, 1986.

Spocking Fives have been a quirky Canadian tradition for years, where people alter Laurier's features on the five-dollar note to resemble Spock from Star Trek.

The Bank of Canada officially objected to this practice in 2002, stating that it could shorten the lifespan of the currency.

In 2015, after Leonard Nimoy's death, Spocking Fives surged in popularity, prompting the Bank to remind people that while it's not illegal, defacing the bill could damage its security features.

The 2013 issue of the note features Laurier with less resemblance to Spock, making it a bit harder to pull off the Spocking trick.

The Bank of Canada considers the five-dollar note a symbol of the country and a source of national pride, even if it's been defaced.