Withdrawn Canadian banknotes

Currency withdrawn from circulation is still legal tender, though is usually disposed of by the Bank of Canada when it returns to their hands. As of early 2005, the 1986-series $5 and $10 bills are still occasionally encountered, but they are rapidly disappearing from regular use; the $20, $50 and $100 from that series are being visibly phased out, but are still common.

Thousand-dollar bill

The $1,000 bills are no longer printed, but are still used by banks and casinos occasionally. The denomination was withdrawn in the early 2000s on the advice of the Solicitor General and the RCMP, as it was often used for money laundering.

The most recent printing of the bill was released in 1992, and was reddish-purple in colour. The front featured a portrait of the Queen; the back featured a winter scene with two pine grosbeaks. The $1000 note has a gap in its history; it was not produced in the 1969-79 series.

Two-dollar bill

The $2 bill ceased printing in 1996 on the release of the toonie, which replaced it after a few years. Some are still seen, but they are very rare in general circulation.

The most recent banknote series that included the $2 note was released in 1986 (the "Birds of Canada" series), in which the two was a terra-cotta colour. The front featured a portrait of the Queen; the back featured a meadow scene with two robinss.

One-dollar bill

The $1 bill ceased printing in 1989 after the release of the loonie (in 1987) had been successful. These bills are virtually never seen in circulation today.

The most recent banknote series that included the $1 note was the 1969-1979 Series, "Scenes of Canada," with the $1 note released in 1974, coloured green. The front featured a portrait of the Queen; the back featured an image of Parliament Hill from across the Ottawa River, with logging activities taking place on the water.

Five-hundred-dollar bill

In its first banknote issue in 1935, the Bank of Canada printed a $500 bill. Like other issues of that year, it had two versions, one in English, one in French. No bill of this denomination has been printed since.

The bill was coloured sepia, or burnt sienna; it featured Sir John A. Macdonald.

Twenty-five-dollar bill

Also in 1935, the Bank of Canada comemmorated the silver jubilee of King George V with a special $25 note. As above, a version in each language was printed. This was a limited release that was never printed in large quantities.

The bill was coloured an appropriate royal purple; both the King and his consort Queen Mary were featured, with Windsor Castle appearing on the back.

External links

Bank of Canada: Bank Note Series, 1935 to Present