5 Dollars CAN Banknote (1969-1975 Issue) 1972

5 Dollars Canadian Dollar (Issued 1972)

Canada’s 1969–1975 banknote series represented a significant modernisation of the country’s paper currency, introducing bolder portraiture, refined intaglio engraving, and more sophisticated guilloché security printing than the issues that preceded it. The five dollar denomination of 1972 sits within this broader programme of visual and technical renewal at the Bank of Canada, reflecting a period of post-centennial national confidence. Printed in Ottawa and bearing the signatures of two senior Bank of Canada officials, this note circulated widely throughout the early 1970s before eventually being withdrawn from general use. It remains a recognisable piece of Canadian monetary history from a defining decade.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada and the first French-Canadian to hold that office, positioned to the right of centre against a pale background with subtle tonal shading. The portrait is rendered with considerable depth through intaglio engraving, capturing Laurier’s distinguished features, dark formal attire, and characteristic high collar with fine cross-hatched detail. The central area of the note carries the bilingual text “CINQ FIVE DOLLARS” in bold serif typography, with the word “CANADA” printed in large capital letters beneath in dark ink. The issuing authority is declared at the top in the bilingual header “BANK OF CANADA – BANQUE DU CANADA.” To the left of centre sits the Canadian coat of arms, intricately engraved with the shield, supporting lion and unicorn, and the crown above, surrounded by wheat and maple leaf decorative elements. The serial number SH0887200 appears in red in two positions across the upper portion of the note. The date “OTTAWA 1972” is printed centrally beneath the denomination text. Two facsimile signatures appear in the lower section — that of the Deputy Governor on the left, attributed to R.W. Lawson, and the Governor on the right, attributed to G.K. Bouey — with their respective titles printed beneath in bilingual form: “SOUS-GOUVERNEUR DEPUTY-GOVERNOR” and “GOUVERNEUR GOVERNOR.” A legal tender declaration runs across the lower centre in both official languages: “CE BILLET A COURS LÉGAL” and “THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER.” The overall colour palette of the front is a warm blend of mauve, olive, and ochre tones, with the background filled by fine guilloché lacework providing visual security and aesthetic depth. The numeral “5” appears in each of the four corners in complementary typography.

The reverse is printed predominantly in a single deep blue-grey ink and features a large, highly detailed intaglio engraving of a Canadian fishing scene as its central motif. A working fishing vessel occupies the foreground, shown with crew members actively hauling nets aboard, with rigging, masts, and deck equipment rendered in precise engraved line work. A second, smaller vessel is visible in the middle distance, and a mountainous coastal landscape with hills rising through a light haze fills the background horizon. The water surrounding the boats is engraved with fine parallel and curved lines suggesting gentle wave movement. To the left of the central scene, a large numeral “5” is set within an elaborate rosette of guilloché spiral patterning, with concentric circular fine-line work radiating outward. A corresponding decorative guilloché panel of similar complexity appears on the right side of the note, incorporating additional geometric micro-patterns. Along the top of the reverse, the word “FIVE” is printed in serif capitals, while “CINQ” appears in the lower right in matching style. The bilingual bank name “BANQUE DU CANADA – BANK OF CANADA” is printed centrally at the lower portion of the reverse in clear dark lettering. The overall composition uses the deep blue tone consistently across all engraved and printed elements, creating a coherent and visually striking design that emphasises Canada’s maritime and resource industries.

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• Indicate the quantity of 5 Dollars Canadian Dollar banknotes you want to exchange
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