Note of the Month: Canada 50 Dollars

Posted on 12/23/2025

Let's crush the winter doldrums with this cool note showing an icebreaker that was repurposed as an Arctic research vessel.

Click images to enlarge.

Country: Canada

Catalog Number: BC-72

Date: 2012

Denomination: 50 Dollars

Varieties: There are several varieties in the PMG Population Report: The lower-case letters 'a' through 'd' represent various signature combinations, while the capital 'A' represents a Replacement/Star note.

What makes it special? This note shows the Canadian icebreaker Amundsen, which was repurposed as a research vessel in 2003. It was originally named for Sir John Franklin, a Navy officer who led Arctic expeditions after the War of 1812; he died in 1847 on his ill-fated third expedition. When it became a research vessel, it was renamed for Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer who was the first to reach the South Pole (in 1911) and North Pole (in 1926).

Did you know? The vessel has made significant contributions to the study of the Arctic, a map of which is depicted behind it on the back of the note. The symbols at the top of the map (including two triangles) are the Inuktitut word for Arctic.

Total graded by PMG: As of mid-December 2025, the PMG Population Report includes 732 examples of the various varieties of BC-72.

PMG median grade: PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ

PMG highest graded: One example of BC-72b earned PMG's highest grade: PMG 70★ Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

Sales highlights: Examples of BC-72a and BC-72b graded PMG 68 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ realized $84 and $79, respectively, in Heritage Auctions sales in 2025.

PMG Registry: This note is part of the most popular Canada category in the PMG Registry, All Notes/Scores in Bank Of Canada, 1935-Date, BC1-Date (No Replacements), where Ken Barrett's top-ranked Ken's BofC Total Collection has a BC-72d in PMG 68 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ. The note is also part of the second-most-popular PMG Registry category for Canada, Registered Sets in Bank Of Canada, With Replacements 1935-Date, BC1-Date, where ASHISH KUMAR SOOBAH's top-ranked Full set from 1935 to 2021 include replacement has six examples of the note, including two Replacements.

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