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4 Dollars Dominion of Canada
| Issuer | Dominion of Canada |
|---|---|
| Year | 1900 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 4 Dollars |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Portrait vignettes of the Countess of Minto at left and the Earl of Minto at right flank a central intaglio vignette of the Sault Ste. Marie lock on the American side, rendered in fine engraved detail. The note is framed by ornate guilloche borders with denomination numerals at the corners. The legend "THE DOMINION OF CANADA WILL PAY TO THE BEARER FOUR DOLLARS" appears across the face. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Dominion of Canada Four Dollars |
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| Comments |
The $4 denomination is a peculiarity of Canadian federal paper currency, and by 1900 it was already an anachronism. The denomination had persisted largely because a $4 note paired with a $1 note made a convenient $5 combination while keeping each piece under the $5 threshold relevant to certain banking regulations of the period. The Dominion Notes Act and chartered bank rules created these odd incentive structures.
This is one of the scarcest Dominion note denominations to survive in any quantity. The 1900 issue had a limited print run, and the $4 face value made redemption and destruction relatively painless for banks clearing small balances.
The American Bank Note Company had relocated its Canadian operations to Ottawa by this point, distinguishing these impressions from earlier runs produced in New York.