Frontier (banknotes)
The Frontier Series is the seventh series of Canadian bank notes released by the Bank of Canada, beginning in 2011. The new notes, made of a special polymer, were designed to increase durability and to incorporate more security features. The notes feature images that focus on historic Canadian achievements and innovation.
In June 2011, the new polymer bank notes were revealed. The $100 was released into circulation on November 14, 2011, the $50 on March 26, 2012, and the $20 on November 7, 2012. The $10 and $5 notes are scheduled to be released by late 2013.
The banknotes were designed by the Canadian Bank Note Company,[1][2] which also prints the banknotes.
Polymer material
This new series of notes are made of “Guardian”, a brand of polymer substrate developed in Australia which is better known as form of plastic. The new material will not tear, is more crumple resistant, water resistant, and is expected to last 2.5 times longer than paper bank notes. The polymer notes are made of biaxially oriented polypropylene which is recyclable.[3]
Canada now joins Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Romania, Vietnam, Mexico and many others in using this new “plastic” format for their currency.[4][5]
The notes also contain a raised dot identification feature (not braille) for identification by those who are visually challenged.[6]
Security features
The notes feature a large clear window, and a stripe of holographic foil that changes colour based on angle. Another window, in the shape of a maple leaf, is frosted, and featured on the other side of the note. These additions have their own unique security features, and, like other countries with polymer banknotes, are extremely hard to counterfeit.
Note design
In 2008, the Bank of Canada hired a research firm for $476,000 to create an image catalogue from which banknote images would be drawn. The research firm polled focus groups in six cities, finding that themes related to diversity and multiculturalism to have strong support. This resulted in 41 images that were scored by the firm and presented to the Bank of Canada.[7]
The $100 note, like the previous series, is brown, and features an updated portrait of Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister of Canada between 1911 and 1920. The face features a new images focusing on Canadian innovation in the field of medicine: the discovery of insulin, the invention of the pacemaker and Canadian research in mapping the human genetic code.[8] The image of the scientist was revised by the Bank of Canada based on comments and details of a 2009 focus group study, released to the public in 2012, showing that some Canadians were concerned about the Asian appearance of the scientist as originally drawn.[9] Some Canadians were concerned about a potential ethnic stereotype of Asians. For the Montreal focus group "the inclusion of an Asian without representing any other ethnicities was seen to be contentious", whereas the Toronto focus group deemed it to "represent diversity or multiculturalism".[9]
The $50 note, like the previous series, is red, and features an updated portrait of William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister of Canada between 1921 and 1930 and again between 1935 to 1948. The face features new images focusing on the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Amundsen in the Arctic, reflecting Canada’s northern frontier and its leading role in Arctic research.[8]
The $20 note, like the previous series, is green, and features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The face features the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, reflecting the contributions of Canada in conflicts throughout its history.[8] Some botanists have stated that the depiction of the maple leaf on the banknote is that of a Norway Maple, not a maple tree indigenous to Canada.[10] A spokesperson for the Bank of Canada stated that the design was "a stylized blend of different Canadian maple species".[10]
The $10 note, like the previous series, is purple, and features a portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada from 1867 to 1873, and later from 1878 to 1891, and a Father of Confederation. The face features the Canadian train, reflecting Canada’s monumental feat in building the Trans Canada Railway.[8]
The $5 note, like the previous series, is blue, and features a portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Prime Minister of Canada between 1896 and 1911. The face features the Canadarm2 and Dextre, reflecting Canada’s contribution to the international space program.[8]
References
- ^ D., M. (2013 January 23). "A maple mishap". The Economist. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Banknotes: An Independent Supplier". Canadian Bank Note Company. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
- ^ Plastics recycling information sheet, Waste Online
- ^ Boesveld, Sarah. “Graphic: Canada’s new money is polymer in your pocket”. National Post’’. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
- ^ Plastics recycling information sheet, Waste Online
- ^ "Polymer Series (2011): Accessibility". Bank of Canada. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ Beeby, Dean (2013-02-10). "Gays, black hockey players rejected on Canada's plastic bank notes". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
- ^ a b c d e "Bank of Canada Unveils Polymer Bank Note Series: Celebrating Canada’s Achievements at the Frontiers of Innovation". Bank of Canada. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-21
- ^ a b "Asian-looking woman scientist's image altered on $100 bills". CBC News. The Canadian Press. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ a b "Canada's new $20 bill at centre of maple leaf flap". CBC News. Retrieved 2013-01-18.