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8 Things To Know About The Canadian $20 Bill

What Is The History Of The Canadian $20 Bill?

The Canadian 20 dollar bill is one of the denominations of Canadian currency. The first 20 dollar bill was issued in 1935, and featured a portrait of Princess Elizabeth on the front and an agricultural allegory on the back. It featured a kneeling male exhibiting the produce of the field to a female agricultural figure. 

There have been several different designs used for the Canadian 20 dollar bill over the years. Such as:

  • The 1935 Princess Elizabeth banknote 
  • The 1937 King George V banknote 
  • The 1954 Queen Elizabeth II banknote
  • The 1969 Centennial Issue banknote (featuring two portraits of Queen Elizabeth II) 
  • The 1986 “Bird” series banknote (featuring a northern gannet) 
  • The 2001 “Canadian Journey” series banknote (featuring an image of people paddling canoes) 
  • The current “Frontiers Series” polymer banknote (released in 2011, honoring The Canadian National Vimy Memorial)

As of 2022, there were approximately 1.05 billion $20 bills in circulation. Each year, approximately 60 million new $20 bills enter circulation.

The Elizabeth II bills will keep legal tender in Canada. They will be gradually replaced by bills bearing an image of Charles III in a future redesign. That said, it will take a while before all of these bills are replaced. This is because of the quantity in circulation and because the polymer banknotes last 3.5x more than their paper counterparts.

What Do The Pictures On The Canadian $20 Bill Mean?

The Front of a Canadian $20 Bill

The Portrait On The Front

The portrait is that of late Queen Elizabeth II. It is based on a photograph taken by Ian Jones, for the Bank. Queen Elizabeth II was the queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.

Elizabeth was born in London as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She was educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir presumptive. She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947, she married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, with whom she has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

Elizabeth’s many historic visits and meetings include a State visit to the Republic of Ireland and travels to or from six continents since becoming queen in 1952. She has seen major constitutional changes—such as devolution in Scotland and Wales—during her reign satisfied to see two members admitted into what became known for its English-speaking membership after her lifetime.” Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022

The Large Building On The Back

The back of a Canadian $20 bill

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who fought in the First World War. 

The Memorial is located on the site of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a turning point in the war for Canada and the Allies. The battle was fought from April 9-12, 1917, and resulted in over 10,000 casualties. 

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial commemorates all Canadians who served their country during the First World War, and is a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many.

The Building On The Front

The Peace Tower is on the same side as the Elizabeth II picture. The real Peace Tower is a bell tower and clock located on the Centre Block of Parliament in Canada. It is a symbol of Canada’s peace and democracy. The tower was designed by architect John A. Pearson, and completed in 1927. The Peace Tower is Ottawa’s most recognizable landmark, and has become an icon of Canada. The tower is open to the public, and visitors can take an elevator to the top of the tower to get a panoramic view of Ottawa. 

The Peace Tower is also home to the Canadian Parliamentary Prayer Room, a Christian chapel open to Members of Parliament, staff, and visitors. The Peace Tower is a National Historic Site of Canada.

Flora On Both Sides Of The $20 Bill

You might have noticed poppies on the $20 dollar bill. In Canada, poppies are often worn on Memorial Day to remember soldiers who have died in wars. Poppies also represent sleep, peace, and death. This is because poppies grow in fields where battles have taken place, and their red color is symbolic of the blood that was shed. Poppies are also used as a symbol of remembrance for other tragedies, such as the September 11th attacks.

Maple leaves are also omnipresent on the Canadian $20 dollar bill. The maple leaf is a symbol of Canada and its people. It is also a symbol of peace and unity. The maple leaf has been used as a symbol of Canada since the 18th century. It was first seen on a Canadian flag in 1868, and has been featured on the flag ever since. The maple leaf is also found on the Canadian coat of arms and many other official symbols of Canada. The maple leaf is a symbol of strength and resilience. It represents the Canadian values of peace, democracy, and multiculturalism. Canadians are proud of their country and its symbols. The maple leaf is just one of the many ways that Canadians show their national pride.

What Are The Security Features Of The Canadian $20 Bill?

The security features that are included on Canadian 20 dollar bills are: raised ink printing on both sides of the note which can be felt when running your finger over it, which also helps people who are blind or have low vision to identify the denomination. There is a series of raised dots in the top left corner which can be used to orient the bill when folding it. 

Additionally, there are holographic stripe(s); watermark; hidden number under UV light; ghost image. The $20 bill is also one of the few denominations of Canadian currency that uses bilingual text. All these features help to make sure that your money is genuine and not counterfeit. You can find more information about specific security features on each denomination’s page on Canada’s official website for its currency

Who Signs The Canadian $20 Dollar Bill?

Governors signatures on the twenty dollar note

Right signature: Tiff Macklem

Tiff Macklem became the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada in July 2020. He has a long and distinguished career in public service, both at the federal and provincial levels. Prior to his appointment as Governor, he served as Senior Deputy Governor – the Bank’s second-highest ranking position – from 2014 to 2020.

Macklem has a PhD in economics from the University of Toronto and has been a faculty member at both the Rotman School of Management and Western University’s Ivey Business School. He has also held senior positions in the Canadian government, including as Clerk of the Privy Council (the federal government’s top civil servant), Deputy Minister of Finance, and Associate Deputy Minister of Industry.

Left signature: Carolyn Rogers

Carolyn Rogers is the current Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada and a member of its Board of Directors. She has held this role since 2021, joining from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce where she was Senior Executive Vice-President for technology and operations. Prior to her roles at CIBC, Rogers spent 19 years in total with the central bank, including 17 as Chief Risk Officer and two leading up to that as Manager/ Head Risks & Controls Group Financial Markets Department. During her tenure at BOC Carolyn championed changes to modernize internal infrastructure – particularly strengthening financial system stability oversight – through data analytics initiatives, artificial intelligence capabilities within banking supervision activities.

In addition to her roles in the financial industry, Carolyn serves as an External Member of the Takeover Panel and is a Director on the Board of Pollard Banknote. She holds undergraduate degrees from both Dalhousie University (BSc Computer Science) and McGill University (BA Economics).

Where To Get A Canadian 20 Dollar Bill?

As it is one of the most popular forms of currency in Canada, you can get a Canadian 20 dollar bill at any financial institution in Canada such as banks or credit unions, or you can get them from automated teller machines (ATMs). You may also be able to exchange foreign currency for Canadian dollars at certain places such as airports or hotels. And finally, you could always try asking someone if they would like to trade goods or services for your twenty dollars instead! 

How To Exchange A Foreign Currency For A $20 Bill?   

There are many different ways to obtain $20 bills if you don’t live in Canada but need some for either travel purposes or because you want to send them as gifts/support to someone living there. Your best bet would be to look into getting them exchanged at a local bank. You can also use a reputable online currency exchange company. Consider researching it before making any decisions though.

What To Do If I Find A $20 Bill?   

The best budgeting tips would recommend saving money where you can or paying off debt. If you find $20, it surely means that it wasn’t planned. Just use it to further your financial means!

What Are The Serial Numbers On A Canadian $20?

All bank notes in Canada have serial numbers consisting of three letters followed by 7 numbers. So, a serial number on a $20 dollar note might look like this: BIR1234567