Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Money & Work • Currency

Canadian dollar

The Canadian dollar is the official currency of Canada, divided into 100 cents.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Canadian dollar is Canada’s official currency, divided into 100 cents and issued by the Bank of Canada. Since 2011, its banknotes have been printed on durable polymer rather than paper.

What it is

The Canadian dollar (CAD) is the national currency of Canada, commonly represented by the symbol $, C$, or CA$. It is subdivided into 100 cents and is issued and managed by the Bank of Canada.

Key details

Current banknotes are made of polymer, a plastic film that lasts about 2.5 times longer than paper. Denominations include $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. The Frontier series began in 2011, and a vertical polymer series was introduced in 2018.

Why it matters

The shift to polymer notes modernizes Canadian currency, improving durability and security with features like transparent windows and holograms. Older notes may still be valid or redeemable, but the polymer series is now standard in everyday use.

In short

  • Canadian dollar is divided into 100 cents, code CAD.
  • Banknotes are polymer, not paper, since 2011.
  • Denominations: $5, $10, $20, $50, $100.
  • Bank of Canada issues and manages all notes.
Canadian angle

Canadian dollar bills are a core part of everyday life in Canada, and the transition to polymer notes is a notable example of Canadian currency modernization and anti-counterfeiting design.

Quick questions

What are Canadian dollar bills made of?
Current Canadian banknotes are made of polymer, a smooth and durable plastic film designed for bank notes.
Are Canadian dollar bills plastic?
Yes. Current Canadian dollar bills are polymer notes, which are a type of plastic-based banknote rather than paper.
Can you still use old Canadian dollar bills?
Some older Canadian notes can still be used if they remain legal tender, and damaged notes may also be redeemable through the Bank of Canada. Very old withdrawn notes may not be accepted in ordinary transactions.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknotes_of_the_Canadian_dollar
    Supports: Current Canadian banknote denominations, issuer, and polymer note series information.
  2. Bank of Canada — https://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bank_note_fact_sheets.pdf
    Supports: Canadian bank notes are printed on polymer and details of the rollout of the polymer series.
  3. Bank of Canada Museum — https://www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca/multimedia/the-life-of-a-polymer-bank-note/
    Supports: Polymer material, durability, security features, and recycling of worn notes.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_dollar
    Supports: Currency name, symbol, code, and subdivision into 100 cents.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_(banknotes)
    Supports: Frontier series as the seventh series and first circulation in 2011.