Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem unveiled the new 20-dollar banknote featuring king Charles on 3/9. Made of polymer and predominantly green, the vertically printed note will gradually enter circulation from late 2/2027. The reverse side of the banknote depicts the Vimy Ridge National Memorial.
Governor Macklem highlighted the historical significance of the new note, noting it has been over 70 years since a new monarch's image last appeared on Canadian banknotes. Design work commenced shortly after king Charles's coronation in 5/2023. The late queen Elizabeth II first appeared on a 20-dollar Canadian banknote issued in 1935, when she was a young princess.
Two years later, in 1937, the Bank of Canada's bilingual banknote series featured king George on most denominations. In 1954, Canada issued a landscape-themed banknote series where all denominations depicted queen Elizabeth II, a design maintained for over 70 years.
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The 20-dollar Canadian banknote featuring king Charles's portrait was unveiled in Ottawa on 3/9. Photo: Canadian Press
The new banknote incorporates advanced security technologies never before applied to Canadian currency. "Our new 20-dollar note is both beautiful in appearance and possesses higher security than ever before," Macklem stated. The note features a purple security strip with details that "rotate, transform, and flash" when tilted, making verification easy and deterring counterfeiting.
The Bank of Canada explained that king Charles's portrait on the banknote is surrounded by floral motifs inspired by "the King's lifelong dedication to the environment." The front also features symbolic flowers representing Canada's 13 provinces and territories.
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King Charles III and queen Camilla waved to the public from the Buckingham Palace balcony in 5/2023. Photo: Reuters
Canadian Minister of Finance Francois-Philippe Champagne emphasized that the new 20-dollar banknote reflects important aspects of Canadian identity. It honors the nation's Commonwealth roots and its relationships with international allies. King Charles is the head of the Commonwealth, which includes Canada, making him Canada's head of state.
Ngoc Anh (According to CBC, BBC)
