Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
20 Dollars
| Issuer | Bank of British North America, Toronto |
|---|---|
| Year | 1871 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | The obverse is engraved in a monochromatic dark blue-black intaglio style on cream paper, with the bank title THE BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA in bold letterpress across the top, flanked by a fine geometric lathe-work border. At centre, a Royal Arms vignette is surrounded by the legend INCORPORATED BY ROYAL CHARTER, with TORONTO repeated to either side; large ornate numeral panels reading TWENTY DOLLARS occupy both left and right corners. A central cartouche bears the promise text THIS BANK WILL PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND TWENTY DOLLARS AT TORONTO, dated 31ST JANUARY 1871, with manuscript signatures of the Accountant and Manager below. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | THE BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA INCORPORATED BY ROYAL CHARTER TORONTO 20 TWENTY DOLLARS THIS BANK WILL PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND TWENTY DOLLARS AT TORONTO. 31ST JANUARY 1871 No ACCT MAN |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
The Bank of British North America was a London-incorporated institution, which explains the consistent use of Perkins, Bacon & Co. throughout its Canadian note production — the bank's controlling interests remained British even as its branches spread across the colonies and, after 1867, the new Dominion. Perkins, Bacon had been engraving security documents since the 1820s and brought the same intaglio discipline to colonial currency that they applied to postage stamps across the Empire.
By 1871, Dominion of Canada notes were already circulating alongside chartered bank issues, creating a crowded field. The BBNA continued issuing its own notes until 1918, when the bank was absorbed by the Bank of Montreal.