1870 Royal Canadian Bank $4

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

Found this in with some old papers while cleaning a file cabinet, unable to locate any info (or even the picture of another one) online and ended up here while looking.

Thanks in advance for any info (Charlton Number?) or valuation estimates... I know it's not in good shape, but thought I would see if anyone knew what it was worth.

I hope the scans are adequate -- Thanks again, and Happy New Year!

Hi edisto,

You will be happy to know that this note is not worthless! 

I checked the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Bank Notes, 5th Edition and found this note. Its catalogue number is 635-14-02.

Note that there are three varieties to this issue (-02, -04, and -04a). The first one, yours, has a rounded lathework design in the top-left corner with the big 4 in it. The second one had its big round lathework changed into an oval format, one serial number was dropped and the other was moved further towards the left, and there were some modifications to the tint. The final variety is like the second but features a town-specific overprint.

Your note is the first variety as I mentioned and it is worth approximately $750.00 in the condition shown. I estimate the condition to be G-VG (a split between the two) and the catalogue values are $550 for G and $1,100 for VG.

If you are interested in selling it, you are more likely to get a better offer from a collector than a dealer, and this site is full of collectors. But as we're dealing with a somewhat valuable note, you might be best advised to obtain multiple offers or an independent fairness opinion before selling the note.

I hope the above has been helpful.

I'm interested.  A good friend of mine will also be interested when he sees your post.  You could probably get us into a bidding war.  Please don't try to "improve" the note by attempting to remove the red ink writing across the face - too many good notes get ruined that way.

Thanks for the info AND the interest, I knew I was in the right place!

...no worries on trying to "clean" or "improve" the note... I have heard too many horror stories over the years, As soon as I saw that it wasn't worthless, it went in a heavy duty zip lock bag and is laid flat on top of a bookshelf away from harm.

...again, thank you to everyone that sent info via PM, and since several people were interested in purchasing the note, I think that my best option for selling it is via auction.  Since I have no background here in the CPM forums, and to protect both me the seller, and you the buyer (since you don't know me) I will be selling it via eBay where I have a !00% 300+ feedback rating.  ebay ID: "drudgemart"

I sincerely appreciate the information and condition/value estimates, and I will give a "shout out" to the CPM forums in the listing.

It should be up at approximately 9pm ET / 6 PM PT Sunday Evening, I hope that you will all watch it or bid if you are interested.

Thanks Again!

ugh! committed a Canadian Paper Money faux pas... I told ya'll I was a neophyte.

Called it a "Royal Bank of Canada" note in my description instead of "Royal Canadian Bank"... what a noobie mistake... oh well, can't change it now -- got bids -- and all the important people that need to find it (you guys!) will be able to track it down.

Thanks again!

For those that track such things, and since this actually answers the original question "What is it worth?" The Royal Canadian Bank $4 Note shown in the scans sold on eBay for $1,772.02 USD on 01/10/10.


Thank you again for the information, and for those of you that bid, thank you as well.