10 Dollars CAN Banknote (1969-1975 Issue) 1971

10 Dollars Canadian Dollar (Issued 1971)

The industrial landscape depicted on the reverse of this 1971 Canadian ten-dollar note reflects the extraordinary importance of the energy and petrochemical sector to Canada’s post-war economic identity. Chosen to represent the nation’s industrial ambition and resource wealth, the sprawling refinery scene was a deliberate statement of confidence in Canada’s capacity as a major producer of raw and processed energy commodities. This denomination, issued by the Bank of Canada as part of the 1969–1975 series, circulated widely during a transformative period in the Canadian economy. The bilingual design, presenting text in both English and French throughout, reinforces the constitutional duality that defines Canadian federal identity.

On the front, the dominant portrait is that of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister and one of the principal architects of Confederation, rendered in a finely engraved intaglio style that conveys great depth and gravitas. His image occupies the right-hand portion of the note, set within a subtly shaded oval vignette, and is depicted in three-quarter view with his characteristic swept silver hair and period coat with a white cravat clearly visible. The background behind the portrait transitions through soft purple and lilac tones, complemented by intricate guilloché patterning that covers much of the note’s face with tight, wave-like geometric lattice work in blue, purple, and green hues. To the left of centre, the Canadian Coat of Arms is engraved in crisp detail, showing the crowned shield supported by the lion and unicorn with scrollwork below. The words “BANQUE DU CANADA — BANK OF CANADA” run across the top margin in clear serif capitals, while the bilingual denomination “TEN DOLLARS — DIX” appears prominently alongside the large numeral “10” in each upper corner and again at the lower left. The word “CANADA” is printed in bold capital letters across the centre of the note. The serial number VB2749052 appears twice in red ink, positioned in the upper central and upper right areas of the face. Printed in the lower centre is the note’s legal tender status in both official languages: “THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER — CE BILLET A COURS LÉGAL,” with “OTTAWA 1971” confirming the date of issue. Two facsimile signatures appear below this text: that of the Deputy Governor on the left, signed by J.R. Lawson, and the Governor on the right, signed by G.K. Bouey, both rendered in dark ink above their respective printed titles in English and French.

The reverse is printed entirely in a rich violet-purple ink and presents a detailed engraved panorama of a large-scale industrial oil refinery and petrochemical processing facility. The scene is dominated by tall refinery towers, chimneys, and processing columns rising against a cloud-filled sky, with a series of large spherical gas storage tanks occupying the middle ground in a row. Pipelines, gantries, scaffolding structures, and additional processing units fill the composition with remarkable engraved precision, conveying the scale and complexity of the industrial plant. The horizon stretches wide across the note, giving the scene a sweeping, almost cinematic quality typical of intaglio engraving of this era. Flanking the central vignette are guilloché rosette panels in deep violet, and the denomination numerals “10” appear in stylised form in the upper right and lower left corners, accompanied by the words “DIX” at the upper left and “TEN” at the lower right. Along the lower edge of the reverse, the bilingual issuing authority inscription reads “BANK OF CANADA — BANQUE DU CANADA” in clean serif lettering.

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