Issued in 1974 by the Bank of Canada, this 2 Dollars banknote belongs to the “Scenes of Canada” series. The obverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, engraved from a 1962 photograph taken at Buckingham Palace. It also includes the Coat of Arms of Canada, intricate guilloché patterns, and bilingual inscriptions in English and French.
The reverse displays an Inuit hunting scene on Baffin Island, showing figures preparing kayaks near an Arctic landscape — a tribute to Canada’s Indigenous peoples and northern heritage. The design is detailed and reflects themes of tradition and survival.
Printed on cotton-based paper, this note includes fluorescent security fibers visible under UV light but does not contain a watermark or security thread.
The dimensions of the note are 152 × 70 mm. It is cataloged under Pick number P‑86a.
Obverse
A red frame decorated with abstract shapes in which the “2” values are presented. Multicolour printing known as “rainbow printing”. Each banknote has a seven-digit serial number with a 2- or 3-letter prefix. The number on the left is printed in red, while the number on the right is printed in blue. On the left is an illustration of the “Coat of Arms of Canada” and on the right is a portrait of Elizabeth II, Queen of England and the Commonwealth.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
2 BANK OF CANADA – BANQUE DU CANADA 2
TWO 2 DEUX
DOLLARS
CANADA
OTTAWA
1974
CE BILLET A COURS LEGAL – THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER
SOUS-GOUVERNEUR – DEPUTY GOVERNOR
GOUVERNEUR – GOVERNOR
2 2 – 2 2
Reverse
In the middle, an Inuit hunting scene on Baffin Island. To the right and left, abstract forms in which the values “2”, “TWO” and “TWO” are presented.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
DEUX – 2
2 – TWO
BANK OF CANADA – BANQUE DU CANADA
Engraver: Charles Gordon Yorke
Signatures
| Ruston William Lawson (RWL) | Deputy Governor |  |
| Gerald Keith Bouey (GKB) | Governor |  |
| John William Crow (JWC) | Deputy Governor |  |
Printer
BA International Inc. (British American Bank Note; British American Banknote Company Limited), Canada (1866-2012)
Features
| Issuer | Canada |
|---|---|
| Issuing bank | Bank of Canada |
| Queen | Elizabeth II (1952-2022) |
| Type | Standard circulation banknotes |
| Year | 1974 |
| Value | 2 Dollars (2 CAD) |
| Currency | Dollar (1858-date) |
| Composition | Paper |
| Size | 152 × 70 mm |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Technique | Intaglio, Lithography |
| Demonetized | 1 January 2021 |
