Canadian Money going Polymer

The look and feel of Canadian Money is changing. Starting mid-November 2011, the Bank of Canada will introduce polymer-based bank notes into circulation beginning with the $100 bill. The new $50 bill will be introduced in March 2012 and the remaining denominations will be issued by the end of 2013.

Polymer bank notes are printed on a smooth, durable film. There are over 30 countries that currently print some or all of their denominations on polymer, including Australia, Mexico, and Romania.

Canada's new polymer bank notes are:

Secure: Their leading-edge security features are easy to verify and hard to counterfeit.
Durable: They are expected to last at least 2.5 times longer in circulation before wearing out and needing to be replaced. As a result, fewer notes will be printed in future years.
Innovative: The notes will be the most advanced ever issued in Canada and among the most secure in the world.
Better for the environment: Polymer notes will have a lower impact on the environment than notes in a cotton-paper-based series and will be recycled.