Merchants Bank of Canada $50 note.

News: Registration is free here at the CPMF!

Hello,

I came across this $50 1917 Merchants Bank of Canada note.  I believe it is catalogue # 460-20-16.  The Charlton catalogue lists the population as 2 (including one institutional).  I don't have the most up to date version of the registry and I'm just wondering if this is the same note which was previously known.  It's only listed in G/VG although this note looks a little bit better than that to my eyes.

There are still only two recorded - the note shown and the Bank of Canada's note.  The note was graded G-VG (net graded, apparently) because of missing pieces and tape.  The note has obviously visited a conservator subsequently.  There is no doubt its appearance has been greatly enhanced, but I think full disclosure is a good thing in these cases.

Thank you, Bob.  I figured that might be the case.

To my untrained eye the repairs appear to have been done skillfully.  I would be very curious to see a "before" and "after" picture.  In this case it is probably a good thing that it was sent to a conservator if only to prevent further deterioration.

I'll be sure to pass on this information in the future if I am able.  At least it will be easy to find as it is now posted publicly.

For a Before picture, see the Interpam Sale catalogue, 1981, lot 293.  There is no doubt the conservator did the note a very great favour.  Sorry I can't scan and post the image just now - my computer and printer are not on speaking terms until I can find somebody with the technical knowhow to fix it. The G-VG grade is as per the sale catalogue (Charlton).

Thank you for the info!

This is the original state of the Merchants Bank $50.  The conservator did a wonderful job on it.
Sorry for the image quality, it is quite small in the Interpam sale catalogue.

Wow, what an amazing job restoring that note.  Some people may want an original note but that's an impressive transformation