King Charles III appears on new vertical $20 bank note
The Bank of Canada has unveiled a new vertical $20 bank note featuring the portrait of King Charles III and the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. The redesigned bill incorporates enhanced anti-counterfeiting security features and will enter circulation in early 2027.
A monarch returns after seven decades
The redesigned $20 bill is the second note in Canada's vertical series following the $10 denomination featuring Viola Desmond.
It marks the first time in more than 70 years that a new reigning monarch appears on Canadian currency, succeeding Queen Elizabeth II, who first appeared on a bank note in 1935.
Surrounding the portrait of King Charles III is a floral tapestry representing provincial and territorial emblems alongside four culturally significant Indigenous plants in a clear window.
The note introduces dynamic security technologies designed to combat counterfeiting on Canada's most widely used denomination.
Testing in cash-handling machines and stakeholder training will precede its release.
Vimy Ridge and the legacy of sacrifice
The reverse side retains the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, commemorating the April 1917 battle where four Canadian divisions fought together as a unified force.
Governor Tiff Macklem highlighted the personal significance of the monument, where his grandfather served as a liaison officer during the First World War.
The memorial honours the 3,600 Canadians who died at Vimy Ridge and bears the names of 11,285 soldiers killed on French soil with no known grave.
Tradition wrapped in necessary tech
Modernizing Canada's most used note is a vital operational defense against evolving counterfeit threats.
The design conservatively balances monarchical tradition with broader cultural motifs.
The real challenge now shifts to seamless machine calibration before next year's rollout.
Source: Unveiling of Vertical $20 Bank Note
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