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2 Dollars 1961, Canada

in Krause book Number: 76b
Years of issue: 1961 - 1972
Edition: 900 000 000
Signatures: Deputy Governor: Mr. J.R. Beattie, Governor: Mr. L. Rasminsky
Serie: 1954 Issue
Specimen of: 09.09.1954
Material: 50% high grade flax, 50% cotton
Size (mm): 152.4 х 69.85
Printer: British American Bank Note Co. Ltd., Montreal

* All pictures marked magnify are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.

** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.

2 Dollars 1961

Description

Watermark:

Avers:

2 Dollars 1961

Queen

HM The Queen Elizabeth II.

This portrait of Queen Elizabeth is based on a photograph by Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh. The photograph was one of many taken during a photographic session in 1951 in Clarence House, a year before Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne.

It was made for Princess Elizabeth's Tour of Canada and the United States.

Many of the portraits from the photographic session show The Queen wearing a tiara, but the particular photograph chosen by the Bank of Canada for its 1954 issue is one without the tiara. Retouched by Brigdens of Toronto, to remove the tiara, circa 1953.

The tiara was removed to distinguish the portrait from another, based on the same photo, which had recently been featured on a Canadian stamp.

Princess Elizabeth is wearing a Norman Hartnell gown. The necklace worn by The Queen in this portrait, of diamond flowers and leaves, was a wedding present from Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar and Queen Mary's Floret Earrings.

The image on the banknotes, which is based on Karsh's photograph, was engraved by George Gundersen of the British American Bank Note Company. This portrait is famous for its two varieties.

1)The first variety of this engraving incorporates a 'devil's head' in The Queen's hair.

2)The second variety of the engraving is modified to remove the offending pattern in Her Majesty's hair.

coat canada

The Canadian coat of arms is on background.

The Arms of Canada, also known as the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada or formally as the Arms of Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada is, since 1921, the official coat of arms of the Canadian monarch and thus also of Canada. It is closely modeled after the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom with distinctive Canadian elements replacing or added to those derived from the British.

The maple leaves in the shield, blazoned "proper", were originally drawn vert (green) but were redrawn gules (red) in 1957 and a circlet of the Order of Canada was added to the arms for limited use in 1987. The shield design forms the monarch's royal standard and is also found on the Canadian Red Ensign. The Flag of the Governor General of Canada, which formerly used the shield over the Union Flag, now uses the crest of the arms on a blue field.

Denominations in numerals are centered and in top corners. In words in lower corners and centered (also on the right and left sides).

Revers:

2 Dollars 1961

Engraver: Harry P. Dawson.

Melbourne

The view on Saint-François River, seen from Upper Melbourne in Richmond, Quebec.

The general allure of Melbourne Township, with its XIX-century brick houses sporting slate roofs and an American vernacular style, reveals the origin of its first pioneers. They arrived around 1799, established the Township in 1855 and founded the village of Melbourne in 1860, named for an English town in both Derbyshire and Hampshire. Arriving from New England, they came to take their chances in this territory because land was still available, accessible, and fertile.

They opened their first school in 1820 and built St. Andrew's Presbyterian church in 1842, an important element of the region’s religious heritage. The church was featured in an illustration on the Canadian two-dollar bill printed from 1954 to 1975. Also in township is Melbourne Ridge United Church (1858). In the Museum of the Richmond County Historical Society may to discover a typical 19th century residence and experience the region, where one of the most famous Canadian artists, Frederick Simpson Coburn (1871-1960) once lived. He immortalized winter scenes from daily rural life of the era that today can be admired at the Musée des beaux-arts in Sherbrooke.

Denominations in numerals are in all corners, in words on the right and left sides and at the top.

Comments:

Banknotes Series 1954.

Obverse designer: Charles F. Comfort.

Reverse engraver: Harry P. Dawson.