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New Canadian Twenty-Dollar Bill

Canadian $20 Bill Highlights Works of Haida Artist Bill Reid

By Susan Munroe, About.com

A new Canadian $20 bill went into circulation on September 29, 2004. The $20 bill is the fourth in the Canadian Journey Series of bank notes which celebrate Canadian history, culture, and achievements. Like the new $100 bill introduced in March 2004, the $20 bill incorporates enhanced security features which make it difficult to copy and easy to verify.

Anti-Counterfeit Features of Canadian $20 Bill

Anti-counterfeiting features used in the $20 bill include
  • a holographic stripe
  • a watermark portrait
  • a windowed security thread
  • a see-through number
  • raised print
  • fine-line printing
  • fluorescence

    Design of Canadian $20 Bill

    The portrait and watermark on front of the $20 bill are of Queen Elizabeth II.

    The theme of the $20 bill is Canadian arts and culture, and the works of Canadian artist Bill Reid are shown on the back of the bill. Bill Reid was a Haida sculptor who carved in many media, including silver, gold, wood and argillite, and also cast in bronze. Bill Reid was active in native rights issues and was especially involved in the preservation of the history of South Moresby in the Queen Charlotte Islands.

    Artworks of Bill Reid shown on the $20 bill are "The Spirit of Haida Gwaii," "The Raven and the First Men," "The Grizzly Bear," and "Mythic Messengers."

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