5 Piastres/Dollars

Obverse description	The obverse bears the title 'BANQUE DE OTTAWA' across the upper register with 'CANADA' to the right, flanking a central royal coat of arms vignette supported by two lions. Large numeral '5' appears at left and right margins with 'FIVE' in vertical letterpress panels on both sides. The bilingual text reads 'Cinq Piastres' in bold script above 'FIVE DOLLARS', with a handwritten promise-to-pay clause, place of issue 'Montreal', and date 'April 1, 1837' inscribed in manuscript below, accompanied by two manuscript signatures at the foot.
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Reverse lettering	FIVE
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Comments	The Banque d'Ottawa is a misattribution that has caused persistent confusion in catalogs — there was no such institution in 1837. This note was almost certainly issued by one of the Montreal-based free banking concerns operating under Lower Canada's loosely regulated pre-Confederation environment, where plural currency denominations quoting both piastres and dollars on the same face were common practice, reflecting the parallel circulation of Spanish, American, and British currency in the colony. The Pick reference P#1909 places this in the broader Canadian provincial scrip category. Treat the issuer name with caution until primary charter documentation is confirmed.