Bank of Canada - National Currency Collection Online

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When going there, is it all a guided tour or is it set up that you can look around at your own pace, or how is it set up?

Tell me more about that poly note Brent!  Come on give some details about the other goodies you were able to get in on during your back stage pass.

Do they have any of the RCM stuff there for sale,

 Jeff

The Currency Museum's website is: http://www.currencymuseum.ca/

The museum is arranged for a self-guided tour at your own pace, or you can catch a guided tour at 11:30 or 3:30.

The museum is currently displaying their "Just Add Milk!" exhibit, which talks all about the use of milk tokens.

My favourite part of the museum (besides the backstage stuff) is Gallery 8, the Collector’s Corner. This section has pull-out panels that offer an exhaustive inventory of Canadian banknotes, ranging from the earliest chartered notes, through the Province and Dominion of Canada era, right up to current Bank of Canada material. Also on display is the National Currency Collection's only G/R test note. (I would have neon flashing lights around it, but the folks at the Bank don't get as worked up about this stuff as I might).

I don't recall how much Mint material is available for sale in the boutique, but there's certainly a fair bit of Bank of Canada related material. Shredded currency anyone?


As for the polymer note, it looks just like any other note from that series, but when you feel it, it is definitely polymer. It's really just the same note, but instead of using paper, they used a sheet of polymer. These notes were NOT circulated like the AXA, EXA, RS, etc, test notes. They were internal only.

They wouldn't say much at all about the note. The conversation went kinda like this:
Me: Oooh, what's this? A polymer note?
Them: Yep.
Me: Did any of these notes ever get put into circulation?
Them: No.
Me: So what happened with these? How many were made? [etc, etc...]
Them: --shrug--
Me: ? ? ?
Them: Sorry, can't say.

It was like showing a kid a magical new toy, letting him look at it, feel it, and examine it for a minute, but then it was taken back. The kid was filled with interest and questions, but they would not be answered, and the kid would not get to play with this new toy again. Such a sad story, isn't it? Sigh.


Other goodies....


Don't drool on your keyboard.


Anyone recognize this?

That's it for now... Can't give away all my treasures, can I?

Also on display is the National Currency Collection's only G/R test note. (I would have neon flashing lights around it, but the folks at the Bank don't get as worked up about this stuff as I might).

Well here is one on Ebay now.....Item # 120290731175

I dropped into the Musemum at the end of June for the first time. I saw those $500 notes finally. We got a private tour. I had my 17 year old daughter with me and although she never wants to hear the word "hyper-inflation" again, I think she was only mildly bored. (She had more fun at the Mint where the cute young tour guide tried to hit on her) 

I noticed in one corner at the Currency Musemum, across from the ancient coins, there was an astrolobe. I asked what it, and the statue of an eagle, were doing there and was told he'd never noticed them before. YIKES!

In all, they do seem much more focused on economics than on the actual currency, but what a great playground!

Hi Paul,

Long time no hear!    I hope you are keeping well. 

Yes, I can understand... some of my friends who have visited the Currency Museum said the only cool part was seeing all the high valued notes, such as $1,000 notes, etc., but besides that, they were kind of bored.  They had more fun at the Mint where they got to see all that gold.   

Michael

Quote
Also on display is the National Currency Collection's only G/R test note. (I would have neon flashing lights around it, but the folks at the Bank don't get as worked up about this stuff as I might).

Well here is one on Ebay now.....Item # 120290731175

This note sold with the buy it now of $2,000. Congratulations to the seller.

Nice profit margin!

Didn't someone on this forum own this note?

YEP

Who was it?

If the (former) owner wishes to make their identity known, they can, but who are we to say whether or not they do?

That said, given the relatively small population of G/R test notes, the identities of the owners are generally well known by many in this hobby, and indeed on this forum.

That last picture you posted Brent, is that the picture that is on the 1912 5 dollar note? What about the 1913 Royal Bank 20, is it the same pic or just close to, without looking the Royal Bank note up I'm just guessing at that one....

 Jeff

That last picture you posted Brent, is that the picture that is on the 1912 5 dollar note?

Well done, sir!

They wouldn't say much at all about the note. The conversation went kinda like this:
Me: Oooh, what's this? A polymer note?
Them: Yep.

My recollection was:

Brent: "Oooh, what's this? A polymer note?"
Them: "Could be"

I went to the museum last week.  I live in Ottawa so it wasn't hard.

The collectors corner is sweet.   They have mulitples of almost every DOC and BOC note in the collection.

You can pull them out in a Metal thing and they are behind glass  but you can still drool on the glass if you choose...lol.

They have a nice 1954 $2 GR Test note in the collection as well appears to be EF/AU ish.  They also have Devils Face replacements.

I did want to snap off like 10 of the Metal 4x4 Metal frames and run for the door.

It is really nice to see notes that I will never own..lol.  Especially the DOC $50,000 etc.

The 1935 Series they have are so sweet... drool.......

If you get a chance its really nice to go and see as you can browse are your own leisure.

I went to the Currency Museum about a month ago and most of the time I was there I was in the collectors corner just looking at all of the 1935 notes and the 1954 "Devils Head" Replacements.