1937 Bank of Canada Banknotes

Currency of the Bank of Canada (1937)

This page shows examples of each major note which was issued for use in 1937 in the Dominion of Canada.
It does NOT cover minor varieties.
All of the currency designs displayed here were printed for circulation as legal tender.

NOTES:
1. Click on any photo to load a much larger version of the same photo.

2. You will find the Charlton Catalogue number listed at the top of the text box beside each set of images.
This web page makes references to various Charlton Numbers. The copyrights to these Numbering Systems are the property of CHARLTON INTERNATIONAL INC and have been used here with their written consent.

3. Because it is illegal to copy a photo of any banknote for the purposes of counterfeiting, the ability to 'right-click' and save these images has been disabled.

1937 Issue of Canadian Banknotes

The "First Bilingual" Issue, First True Serial Numbers

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:

Denomination	Denom. Letter Assigned
$1	A, L, M or N
$2	B or R
$5	C or S
$10	D or T
$20	E
$50	H
$100	J
$1000	K

1937 1 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-21a

1 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Agriculture allegory: Seated female with various agricultural products.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 1 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers, Narrow Panel)

BC-21b

1 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)
(Narrow Panel)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Agriculture allegory: Seated female with various agricultural products.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

In this version the signature panel is vertically shorter (harder to detect with the naked eye), but the top of the King's portrait is further from the top border (much easier to detect):
when compared to the BC-21c variety:

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 1 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers, Wide Panel)

The staff at the Bank of Canada found it difficult to fit the signatures into the signature panel on the 1 dollar note. For the second release of notes the layout was modified slightly to increase the height of the signature box. As a result the King's portrait was moved higher on the design.

BC-21c

1 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)
(Wide Panel)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Agriculture allegory: Seated female with various agricultural products.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

In this version the signature panel is vertically taller (harder to detect with the naked eye), but the top of the King's portrait is closer to the top border (much easier to detect):
when compared to the BC-21b variety:

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 1 Dollar Note (Coyne-Towers)

BC-21d

1 Dollar
(Coyne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Agriculture allegory: Seated female with various agricultural products.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.E. Coyne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 2 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-22a

2 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Harvest allegory: Seated female with the fruits of harvest.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 2 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers)

BC-22b

2 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Harvest allegory: Seated female with the fruits of harvest.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 2 Dollar Note (Coyne-Towers)

BC-22c

2 Dollar
(Coyne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Harvest allegory: Seated female with the fruits of harvest.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.E. Coyne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 5 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-23a

5 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Electric power allegory: Seated male with symbols of electricity.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 5 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers)

BC-23b

5 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Electric power allegory: Seated male with symbols of electricity.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 5 Dollar Note (Coyne-Towers)

BC-23c

5 Dollar
(Coyne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Electric power allegory: Seated male with symbols of electricity.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.E. Coyne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 10 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-24a

10 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Transportation allegory: Mercury with airplanes, ships and trains.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 10 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers)

BC-24b

10 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Transportation allegory: Mercury with airplanes, ships and trains.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 10 Dollar Note (Coyne-Towers)

BC-24c

10 Dollar
(Coyne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Transportation allegory: Mercury with airplanes, ships and trains.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.E. Coyne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 20 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-25a

20 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Fertility allegory: Seated female with sickle.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 20 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers)

BC-25b

20 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Fertility allegory: Seated female with sickle.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 20 Dollar Note (Coyne-Towers)

BC-25c

20 Dollar
(Coyne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Fertility allegory: Seated female with sickle.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.E. Coyne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 50 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-26a

50 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Modern inventions allegory: Seated female with symbols of radio broadcasting.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 50 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers)

BC-26b

50 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Modern inventions allegory: Seated female with symbols of radio broadcasting.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 50 Dollar Note (Coyne-Towers)

BC-26c

50 Dollar
(Coyne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - H.M. King George VI.
Back - Modern inventions allegory: Seated female with symbols of radio broadcasting.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.E. Coyne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 100 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-27a

100 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - Sir John A. MacDonald.
Back - Commerce and industry allegory: Seatedmale showing a model ship to a child.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 100 Dollar Note (Gordon-Towers)

BC-27b

100 Dollar
(Gordon-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - Sir John A. MacDonald.
Back - Commerce and industry allegory: Seatedmale showing a model ship to a child.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (D. Gordon and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 100 Dollar Note (Coyne-Towers)

BC-27c

100 Dollar
(Coyne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - Sir John A. MacDonald.
Back - Commerce and industry allegory: Seatedmale showing a model ship to a child.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.E. Coyne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

1937 1000 Dollar Note (Osborne-Towers)

BC-28

1000 Dollar
(Osborne-Towers)

VIGNETTES:
Front Center - Sir Wilfred Laurier.
Back - Security allegory: Kneeling woman shielding her child.

These notes were delivered to the Bank of Canada without any printed signatures. The signatures of the Deputy Governor (J.A.C. Osbourne) and the Governor (G.F. Towers) were printed by the letterpress method with black ink at the Bank of Canada.

Note: See Appendix A for the locations of the plate numbers on these notes.

APPENDIX A: Plate Number Locations

The locations of the plate numbers for both the English and French notes can be found below: