(September 26 – 11:15 ET) – The Bank of Canada says it will issue a new series of bank notes beginning in January 2001 to further enhance the security of Canada’s currency.
The new series of bank notes will contain sophisticated security features designed to thwart counterfeiters. “The new notes will incorporate state-of-the-art security features that will make Canadian bank notes even more secure than they are now. Each new series contains more sophisticated security features to protect Canadians from the risk of receiving counterfeit notes,” said Bank of Canada Governor Gordon Thiessen.
A major enhancement to the new series is the addition of a tactile feature that will greatly improve the ability of the blind and vision impaired to recognize different denominations.
The bank says it has been consulting with Canadians across the country to ensure that the new designs reflect Canada’s culture, history, and achievements. The results of that extensive national consultation have been reflected in the selection of subject matter that will be incorporated into the new note designs. The subject matter approved by the Minister of Finance for the new notes will be announced in November.
Although the current images will change, the bank says the new notes will be the same size, and the existing dominant colours on each bill will remain. In addition, the Queen and the Prime Ministers currently featured on the notes will remain on the same denominations but there will be new portraits.
The new $10 bill will be put into circulation in January 2001. The new $5 note will be issued later in the year, and the remaining new notes will be introduced over the next two to three years. A $1,000 note will not be issued as part of the federal government’s fight against money laundering and organized crime.
-IE Staff