Walk2thewater's Bank Of Canada Personal Collection:

I've just discovered that I have only posted one 1972 $5 on CCF.

BC-48bA/P-87br 1972 FIVE DOLLARS Replacement:

The *SL replacement had an estimate of just 200,000 issued. I snapped this one up when I felt like I could barely afford it, but I'm now glad I did. PCGS grades it 64 PPQ

BC-48bT/P-87bT 1972 FIVE DOLLARS TEST note:

I very rarely saw the R/S $5.00 test note for sale. On another forum I saw a post where a collector was selling his. I forgot about but about 3 years later saw his post again & bought it. He had it graded by BCS as EF 45 (Original).

Finally, here's an XA short prefix I posted earlier. Although 5M were issued a lot of collectors missed this note. I wanted a non replacement (at the time) as it was tough yet priced right (ungraded). I submitted it and it got a UNC 60 (Original) by BCS. This seems to be a popular # for BCS.

-Thanks jbuck!
BC-49cA-i/P-88cr 1971 TEN DOLLARS Replacement:


This EDX note caught a lot of collectors by surprise back in the early seventies when it was the initial use of the "X" letter to indicate replacement function so not a lot were saved despite over 2M issued. I got this note after I bought the R/S $5 Test note as part of a "package deal."

BC-50a/P-89a TWENTY DOLLARS 67th note:


I had to scoop this #67 note from the first prefix (it was screaming at me- "buy me, buy me!"

BC-50a/P-89a TWENTY DOLLARS cut off size error:


This error is listed as "E-24" according to Charlton. I liked it at the time as it was the first prefix. I also liked the Moraine Lake scene (in Alberta) on the reverse. My brother had moved out there & we had visited some of these places after his wedding ceremony in Canmore.

Keep 'em coming!

-Thanks guys!

In 1979, the Bank of Canada revised both the $5.00 & $20.00 denominations. Primarily, they moved the serial number to the back of the note & changed the colour of the $20 slightly (added some pink) to distinguish it from the $1.00.

Just to recall what the 1972 $5.00 looked like (with serial on top front):
BC-48a/P-87a 1972 FIVE DOLLARS #514


I bought this set of matching serial numbers at one of my first coin shows. A small batch were sold off by the BoC to dealers earlier. I later submitted them to BCS for certification.

BC-53a/P-92a 1979 FIVE DOLLARS #514


Most collectors were stymied by the new numbering system so few replacements & test notes were discovered. It wasn't until much later after collectors made requests to the central bank, that it was finally revealed that serials which began with #310 signified Replacement function & initial #330 signified Test note function. Many of these Fives were kept well into the mid 1980's when the next Bird series arrived. I believe that they've been a bit of a underdog in CDN collector circles.
BC-53aA/P-92ar 1979 FIVE DOLLARS Replacement


And finally, to the TWENTY. As a collector, I had plenty of these regular $20 & $5 and had always struggled to get rid of them so I began selling off EF/AU examples with a minor premium. I also sold off my $50 & $100 notes to upgrade my personal collection. With the proceeds I bought my first error note.

BC-54c/P-93c 1979 TWENTY DOLLARS OFFSET printing ERROR


Once again, I certified this note & was happy to see it was designated "Original' as I knew it had been handled somewhat.

Next weekend, I will post some of my BIRDS series.

Canadian currency is really pretty!

- I find this typical Earl42. I knew many collectors who loathed the original Journey series while their designs actually drew me back into the fray. I wasn't a big fan of the Birds series but I've grown to appreciate them. I grew up during the Scenes of Canada series so they hold special memories for me. Thanks for taking a peak & commenting.



- Thanks hfjacinto. Most nations have pretty cool currency (IMO) but sometimes you may have to go back a ways to find what attracts you. Paper's not "everyone's cup of tea" which I find incomprehensible.



-Thanks jbuck!

Now, I'll get an early start to the BIRDS series. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled about the designs of these notes but they eventually grew on me. I was sad to see the 1973 $1.00 retire for the "Loonie" and wasn't surprised when the 1986 $2.00 Robin flew the circulating currency coop (to be replaced by the "Toonie") as well.

BC-55bA/P-94br 1986 TWO DOLLARS Replacement:


The Thiessen Crow ARX replacement, with nearly 1M issued, is a very common replacement. Many sequential runs were discovered (& saved). At the time, I was more interested in finding a scarce incorrect signature on the AUG, AUH, AUJ, AUK, AUL, AUM, or AUN prefixes but had to settle for the more common (expected) type. I found a few in AU to UNC but discovered (today) that I have no scans of these notes. Here's another common BRX replacement:

This $2.00 & $5.00 denomination were always very low on my priority list so I never really chased any interesting examples.

BC-56a/P-95 1986 FIVE DOLLARS:



There's nothing special about this first signature Crow Bouey EOE prefix other than it has a "Yellow Back Position Number." It is just an extra note that will be up for sale demonstrating the design & first signature of the $5. These FIVES were still circulating in my 3rd & most serious phase as a collector. At this point, I was just learning that the ENX & ANX were the replacements to look out for but quite common. I often saw a few of these in circulated condition & then released them "back into the wild" due to their limp, undesirable condition. I lost respect for this denomination since the toughest Bonin Thiessen FNX replacement's BV also fluctuated wildly. Although only 20,000 of these were released, I suspected large runs were discovered.

BC-56d/P-95d 1986 FIVE DOLLAR consecutive radars



Around 2002, when they first introduced the new Journey $5.00, there was talk of a hybrid (polymer-paper) GOV Test note prefix & that's what we were all in search for (that & anything newsworthy re: the new series). I remember when one was discovered out east & many of us were all a buzz speculating what it would go for at one of my first shows I attended in Toronto. Eventually a fellow collector sold me this GPZ replacement (below) & only about 6 years ago, I picked up the above consecutive radars.

BC-56eA/P-95dr 1986 FIVE DOLLAR Replacement:


I might just add that the back of the FIVE features the Belted Kingfisher bird which my dad & I often saw while fishing in Ontario. It looks a lot like a big Blue Jay but with less blue and more grey plumage. I will try to get to the TENS & TWENTIES over the weekend.

-Thanks for your comments jbuck!




Perhaps the topic of a new thread?

One thing that really threw me about the new Birds Series was the barcode like serial number on the reverse (backs). Some collectors thought they were overly simplistic & I suppose that was why they grew on me. I also liked the bird theme: I would rather see an osprey catch a fish than an oil refinery on the back of my $10.00

BC-57bA/P-96 1989 TEN DOLLARS Replacement:


The Theissen Crow first signature BDH prefix had a short run of 890,000. This note's Book Value & sale price fluctuated wildly during the start of my last more serious phase back into the hobby. I kept putting that note "on hold" & bought the Bonin Thiessen replacement (140,000) in AU condition instead. These notes also fluctuated wildly, especially once some tough prefixes came out with the new Journey series. Many collectors shifted their focus on the new series & more or less abandoned the Birds series. I bought this UNC example (pictured above) as an upgrade from my first note.

BC-58c/P-97c 1991 TWENTY DOLLARS radar:


The above $20 was a radar I picked up from another collector. At the time I was into low # radars & the example above "fit the bill." It is a nice problem free EF. I also picked up some AIX replacements but these were circulated & not kept.


Two sequential radars.

The 1991 Bird series was eventually replaced by the 2004 Journey $20 but we saw them hang around long afterwards since billions were in circulation. My focus was locked onto the last 2001 original Journey TEN prefixes. This short lived series was being easily photocopied & therefore pulled due to their shortcomings. (More on that next weekend). Since it took ages for these $20.00 notes to fade off into "currency oblivion" collector interest wasn't as avid as it could have been.