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5 Dollars
| Issuer | Royal Bank of Canada |
|---|---|
| Year | 1909 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse presents a classical allegorical vignette at left, in which a seated female figure in flowing robes rests beside a lion and a young child amid a pastoral landscape, rendered in fine intaglio engraving. The bank title 'The Royal Bank of Canada' appears in ornate script across the upper centre, with the overprint legend 'DOMINION OF CANADA' at the top and the denomination 'FIVE DOLLARS' in bold letterpress at lower centre. The serial number in red appears twice, flanking the bank title, with the date 'MONTREAL, JAN. 2nd 1909' printed at the lower right, and green guilloche work frames the central denomination numeral '5' on the right side. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is dominated by a centrally placed intaglio engraving of the British Royal Arms, supported by a crowned lion and a unicorn as heraldic supporters, with the motto 'DIEU ET MON DROIT' on the ribbon below. The legend 'THE ROYAL BANK' arches across the top within a decorative frame, and 'OF CANADA' appears at the base, all set against an elaborate symmetrical guilloche underprint. Flanking the central armorial panel on both sides are large lathe-work rosettes incorporating the word 'FIVE' in bold relief. |
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| Comments |
The Royal Bank of Canada was still headquartered in Halifax when it first established its relationship with the American Bank Note Company, but by 1909 the bank had relocated to Montreal and was aggressively expanding its branch network across the country. This note was printed at ABNC's Ottawa facility — one of the few instances where the Canadian operation, rather than the New York parent plant, handled the full production run for this denomination.
Pick #1371 is catalogued as a chartered bank issue, operating under Dominion of Canada legislation that required private banks to maintain a note reserve ratio against their circulation. The chartered bank era ended with the 1944 Bank Act revisions, after which redemption periods for outstanding private notes were progressively shortened.