2 Dollars CAN Banknote (1937 Issue) 1937

2 Dollars Canadian Dollar (Issued 1937)

Canada’s first unified national paper currency, issued under the Bank of Canada following its establishment in 1935, represented a defining moment in the country’s financial sovereignty. The 1937 series marked a refinement of that inaugural system, bearing the portrait of the reigning monarch at a time when loyalty to the Crown remained a central part of Canadian civic identity. Printed by the British American Bank Note Company Limited, this two-dollar note circulated during the years of post-Depression economic recovery and on the cusp of the Second World War. It encapsulates both the formal grandeur of mid-century engraving craftsmanship and the bilingual character that has always distinguished Canadian federal institutions.

On the front, the central focus is a finely engraved oval portrait of King George VI, depicted in military dress uniform adorned with medals and decorations, rendered in deep charcoal and dark grey intaglio engraving that gives the portrait exceptional relief and tonal depth. Flanking the portrait to the left and right, the issuing authority is declared in bold serif capitals: “BANK OF CANADA” in English on the left and “BANQUE DU CANADA” in French on the right, reflecting Canada’s constitutional bilingualism. The denomination appears prominently in the lower portion of the note in the same bilingual format — “TWO DOLLARS” and “DEUX DOLLARS” — printed in strong black lettering against a lighter geometric background. The serial number H/B 0405032 appears twice in red, once to the upper left and once to the upper right of the portrait. At the very top border, “TWO DOLLARS” and “DEUX DOLLARS” are again repeated in fine text, while the vertical side margins carry additional small denomination indicators. The date “OTTAWA, 2 JAN. 1937” is printed in both languages across the lower central section. Two facsimile signatures appear beneath the date: on the left, that of J. L. Coyne as Deputy Governor, and on the right, G. F. Towers as Governor of the Bank of Canada. The promise text “WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND” in English and “PAGARA AL PORTEUR SUR DEMANDE” in French runs across the note below the issuing bank names. The overall colour of the front is a dark charcoal-black on a lightly textured pale background, with fine guilloché patterning visible across the field, and the numeral “2” and the word “DEUX” appear in the lower right corner as additional denomination references. The printer’s imprint “BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY LIMITED” is visible in small text along the lower margin.

The reverse is printed in a rich reddish-brown monochromatic scheme, presenting a dramatically engraved central allegorical vignette depicting a seated female figure, representing Harvest or Prosperity, surrounded by agricultural produce including sheaves of grain, a barrel, and a cornucopia of goods, evoking Canada’s abundant natural and agricultural resources. The figure is rendered in detailed intaglio engraving with strong tonal contrasts, set within an ornate rectangular frame decorated with scrolling foliate and guilloché border work. Large stylised numeral “2” medallions appear on both the left and right flanks of the central vignette, engraved in white relief against the reddish-brown field, surrounded by intricate lathe-work patterning. At the top of the reverse, “BANK OF CANADA” and “BANQUE DU CANADA” are printed side by side in bold capitals, separated by a small decorative motif. Along the lower edge, “TWO DOLLARS” and “DEUX DOLLARS” appear in matching typography. The printer’s credit “BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY LIMITED” is again noted in small text at the foot of the note. The overall paper shows the natural ageing and circulation wear consistent with a note of this period, with light creasing visible across the surface.

This 1937 two-dollar Canadian banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com, where old or withdrawn Canadian Dollars banknotes are bought alongside other foreign currency — ideal for clearing a drawer of mixed coins and notes at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 2 Dollars Canadian Dollar banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

From leftover holiday money to inherited collections, Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange or buy your Canadian Dollars banknotes and other foreign currency, handling old and withdrawn pieces in the same simple process.