Time Period: 1670-1763 - French colony of New France

Timeline

  • 19.02.1670
  • French royal decree on the production of coinage for exclusive use in the "American colonies on land and water", thereby creating the French Colonial Livre; effective by law of 24.03.1670
  • 18.11.1672
  • Ordinance on the rating of French coinage in the American colonies at 100 French Livres = 133⅓ French Colonial Livres; effective immediately
  • 08.06.1685
  • Local ordinance on the issuance of emergency paper money made of playing cards (first period); effective immediately
  • 05.07.1717
  • Local ordinance on the demonetisation of playing card money and exchange into French silver money at a rate of 2 Livres (paper) = 1 Livre (silver); effective immediately and completed during 1719
  • 14.06.1726
  • Ordinance on the rating of French coinage in the American colonies at 100 French Livres = 150 French Colonial Livres; effective immediately
  • 02.03.1729
  • Local ordinance on the issuance of emergency paper money made of playing cards (second period); effective immediately


Time Period: 1763-1841 - British colony of Lower Canada

Timeline

  • 14.09.1764
  • Governor's ordinance on the rating of foreign coins in the accounting currency, creating the so-called "Quebec Currency"; effective 01.01.1765:
    - Silver: English Shilling at 16 Pennies; Spanish Dollar (8 Spanish Reals) at 72 Pennies
    - Gold: English Guinea at 28 Shillings; Portuguese Doubloon (6'400 Portuguese Reals) at 96 Shillings.
  • 29.03.1777
  • Ordinance [Cap. 9 (17 Geo III)] on the rating of foreign coins in the accounting currency, creating the so-called "Halifax Currency"; effective immediately:
    - Silver: English Shilling at 13 Pennies; Spanish Dollar (8 Spanish Reals) at 60 Pennies
    - Gold: English Guinea at 23⅓ Shillings; Portuguese Doubloon (6'400 Portuguese Reals) at 80 Shillings.
  • 07.05.1796
  • Ordinance [Cap. 5 (36 Geo III)] on amending the rating of Spanish trade coins in the "Halifax Currency"; effective immediately:
    - Gold: Spanish Doubloon (8 Spanish Escudos) at 74 Shillings.
  • 14.04.1808
  • Ordinance [Cap. 8 (48 Geo III)] on partly amending the rating of Spanish trade coins in the "Halifax Currency"; effective immediately:
    - Gold: Spanish Doubloon (8 Spanish Escudos) at 74½ Shillings.
  • around 1815
  • Issuance of a token of 1 Penny "Halifax Currency" by Sir Isaac Coffin, holder of feudal rights in the Magdalen Islands (Quebec)
  • 24.04.1819
  • Ordinance [Cap. 1 (59 Geo III)] on the rating of French coins in the "Halifax Currency"; effective immediately:
    - Silver: 6 French Livres at 66 Pennies; 5 French Francs at 56 Pennies
    - Gold: 20 French Francs at 181⁄12 Shillings.
  • 1835-1860
  • Issuance of tokens of 1, ½ Penny "Halifax Currency", denominated as 2, 1 Sous, by four commercial banks in Montreal (Lower Canada):
    - Bank of Montreal (est. 23.06.1817); People's Bank of Montreal (est. 1835 under the name "Viger, DeWitt & Compagnie"); City Bank von Montreal (est. 1831)
    - Bank of Quebec (est. 1818).


Time Period: 1763-1841 - British colony of Upper Canada

Timeline

  • 03.06.1796
  • Ordinance [Cap. 1 (36 Geo III)] on adopting the 1796 ratings of the "Halifax Currency" of Lower Canada; effective immediately
  • 09.03.1809
  • Ordinance [Cap. 8 (49 Geo III)] on adopting the 1808 ratings of the "Halifax Currency" of Lower Canada; effective immediately
  • 14.04.1821
  • Ordinance [Cap. 13 (2 Geo IV)] on the demonetization of the former "New York Currency" (admitted in the 1760s) at 20 Shillings "New York Currency" = 12½ Shillings "Halifax Currency"; effective 01.01.1822
  • around 1830
  • Issuance of tokens of ½ Penny "Halifax Currency" by the Provincial Government of Upper Canada
  • 20.04.1836
  • Ordinance [Cap. 27 (6 Will IV)] on the rating of US American coins in the "Halifax Currency"; effective immediately:
    - Gold: 10 US Dollars (1792) at 53⅓ Shillings; 10 US Dollars (1834) at 50 Shillings
    - Silver: 1 US Dollar at 60 Pennies.


Time Period: 1841-1854

Currency: Canadian Pound


Timeline

  • 18.09.1841
  • Law [Currency Act, Cap. 93 (4&5 Vict)] on currency of the Canada Province based on the "Halifax Currency" of Lower Canada; effective 27.04.1842. Ratings:
    - Gold: 1 British Sovereign at 24⅓ Shillings; 10 US Dollars (1792) at 53⅓ Shillings; 10 US Dollars (1834) at 50 Shillings
    - Silver: 1 US Dollar (and Latin American Dollars) at 61 Pence.
    - French and Latin American gold coins were demonetized and rated per bullion (at between at 89-94 Shillings per Troy ounce depending on coin type and fineness).
  • 10.08.1850
  • Law [Cap. 8 (13&14 Vict)], amending the 1841 Currency Act, on the issuance of gold and silver coins by the Province of Canada and revised rating of foreign silver coins; effective 01.01.1851 (no coins were issued):
    - Silver: 1 US Dollar (and Latin American Dollars) at 60 Pence.
  • 10.08.1850
  • Law [Free Banking Act, Cap. 21 (13&14 Vict)] on the establishment of a free banking system in the Canada Province including the issuance privilege for paper money; effective immediately
  • around 1850
  • Issuance of tokens of 1, ½ Penny "Canadian Currency" by a commercial bank in Toronto

Valuation Regimes

  • 1842-1854
  • Metallic currency based on circulating foreign gold coins.

Rate Arrangements

  • 27.04.1842
  • Fixed
  • British Pound at 240 : 292 - [Gold parity] 6'018.40mg AU fine
  • -


Time Period: 1854-

Currency: Canadian Dollar

  • Transition
  • 4 : 1
  • Sub-units
  • Dollar / 100 Cents
  • ISO4217
  • CAD

Timeline

  • 22.04.1853
  • Law [Currency Amendment Act, Cap. 158 (16 Vict)] on the adoption of the decimal currency system based on the Canadian Dollar of 5 Shillings, implementing the act [Decimal System, Cap. 47 (14&15 Vict)] of 30.08.1851; effective 01.08.1854. Adapted ratings:
    - Silver: 1 US Dollar at 1 Canadian Dollar
    - Gold: 1 British Sovereign at 4.86⅔ Canadian Dollars; 10 US Dollars (1792) at 10.66⅔ Canadian Dollars; 10 US Dollars (1834) at 10 Canadian Dollars.
  • 10.06.1857
  • Law [Cap. 18 (20 Vict)] on the mandatory use of the decimal currency system; effective 01.01.1858
  • 01.07.1858
  • Start of issuance of subsidiary coins of 20, 10, 5, 1 Cents
  • 15.08.1866
  • Law [Provincial Notes Act, Cap. 10 (29&30 Vict)] on the issuance of government notes by the Province of Canada; effective 01.10.1866
  • 22.05.1868
  • Law [Dominion Notes Act, Cap. 46 (31 Vict)] on the issuance of redeemable "Dominion Notes" by commercial banks, effective immediately
  • 12.05.1870
  • Law [Dominion Notes Act, Cap. 10 (33 Vict)] on the issuance of redeemable "Dominion Notes" by the government (eliminating the provincial issues); effective 01.07.1870.
    - 12.04.1876: Law [Cap. 4 (39 Vict)] on the extension of the Dominion Notes Act to the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island; effective immediately.
  • 14.04.1871
  • Law [Uniform Currency Act, Cap 4 (34 Vict)] on the adoption of the Canadian Dollar by the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and the Manitoba territory; effective 30.06.1871. Exchange rates:
    - 1 Canadian Dollar = 1 New Brunswick Dollar; 73 Canadian Dollars = 75 Nova Scotia Dollars.
  • 14.04.1871
  • Law [Banking Act, Cap. 5 (34 Vict)] on the regulation of banks (including paper money issuance); effective 01.07.1871
  • 21.03.1881
  • Law [Cap. 4 (44 Vict)] on the adoption of the Canadian Dollar by the provinces of British Columbia and Prince Edward Island; effective 01.07.1881. Exchange rates:
    - 1 Canadian Dollar = 1 British Columbia Dollar = 1 Prince Edward Island Dollar.
  • 03.07.1934
  • Law [Bank of Canada Act, Cap. 43 (24&25 Geo V)] on the establishment of the Bank of Canada; effective upon constitution of the bank on 11.03.1935.
    - ??.??.1944: Law [Bank Act, Cap. 30 (8 Geo VI)], revising the 1934 act, on the abolition of the issuance privilege for paper money by commercial banks and the obligation to withdraw their paper money until 01.01.1950; effective 01.01.1945.
  • 22.03.1949
  • Law [British North America Act, Cap. 22 (12&13 Geo VI)] on the incorporation of Newfoundland into Canada; effective 31.03.1949.
    - The Newfoundland currency was not formally abolished (rated at 1 Canadian Dollar = 1 Newfoundland Dollar).

Valuation Regimes

  • 1854-1914
  • Metallic currency based on circulating gold coins. Base weight was the English troy pound / 12 ounces / 480 grains at 373.242 grams.
  • 1914-1926
  • Variable rate around parity with US Dollar; the gold standard was suspended on 10.08.1914
  • 1926-1933
  • Fixed rate against gold; the gold standard was restored on 01.07.1926
  • 1933-1939
  • Variable rate around parity with US Dollar, the gold standard was suspended on 10.04.1933
  • 1939-1950
  • Fixed rate against US Dollar
  • 1950-1962
  • Variable rate
  • 1962-1970
  • Fixed rate against US Dollar
  • 1970-
  • Variable rate

Rate Arrangements

  • 01.08.1854
  • Metallic
  • Dollar: 1'504.59mg AU fine
  • Pound of 4 Dollars at 101.321 English troy grains of 22-carats gold
  • 10.08.1914
  • Variable
  • initially: US Dollar at 1 : 1
  • ±0.0%
  • 01.07.1926
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 1 - [Gold parity] 1'504.63mg AU fine
  • -
  • 10.04.1933
  • Variable
  • initially: US Dollar at 1 : 1
  • ±0.0%
  • 15.09.1939
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 1.10
  • -
  • 05.07.1946
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 1 - [Gold parity (18.12.1946)] 888.67mg AU fine
  • +10.0%
  • 19.09.1949
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 1 : 1.10 - [Gold parity] 888.67mg AU fine
  • -9.1%
  • 01.10.1950
  • Variable
  • initially: US Dollar at 1 : 1.10
  • ±0.0%
  • 02.05.1962
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 0.925 : 1 - [Gold parity] 822.02mg AU fine
  • -
  • 01.06.1970
  • Variable
  • initially: US Dollar at 0.925 : 1
  • ±0.0%


End-year Forex Rates (Units per US Dollar)

  • Year
  • Code
  • Ratio
  • Rate
  • Delta
  • Comment
  • 1946
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • ±0.0%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1947
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • ±0.0%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1948
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • ±0.0%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1949
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.10
  • -9.1%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1950
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.06
  • +3.8%
  • 1951
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.02
  • +4.0%
  • 1952
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.97
  • +5.0%
  • 1953
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.98
  • -0.6%
  • 1954
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.97
  • +0.9%
  • 1955
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • -3.2%
  • 1956
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.96
  • +4.0%
  • 1957
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.99
  • -2.5%
  • 1958
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.96
  • +2.2%
  • 1959
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.95
  • +1.3%
  • 1960
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • -4.5%
  • 1961
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.04
  • -4.5%
  • 1962
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.08
  • -3.2%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1963
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.08
  • -0.3%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1964
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.07
  • +0.7%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1965
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.08
  • -0.2%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1966
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.08
  • -0.8%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1967
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.08
  • +0.3%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1968
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.07
  • +0.8%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1969
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.07
  • -0.1%
  • fixed against USD
  • 1970
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.01
  • +6.2%
  • 1971
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • +1.0%
  • 1972
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • +0.7%
  • 1973
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.00
  • -0.2%
  • 1974
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.99
  • +0.7%
  • 1975
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.02
  • -2.5%
  • 1976
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.01
  • +0.4%
  • 1977
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.10
  • -7.6%
  • 1978
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.19
  • -7.7%
  • 1979
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.17
  • +1.1%
  • 1980
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.19
  • -1.5%
  • 1981
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.19
  • +0.1%
  • 1982
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.23
  • -3.5%
  • 1983
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.25
  • -1.1%
  • 1984
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.32
  • -5.5%
  • 1985
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.40
  • -5.5%
  • 1986
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.38
  • +1.1%
  • 1987
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.30
  • +6.2%
  • 1988
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.19
  • +9.1%
  • 1989
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.16
  • +2.9%
  • 1990
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.16
  • -0.3%
  • 1991
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.16
  • +0.6%
  • 1992
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.27
  • -8.9%
  • 1993
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.34
  • -5.1%
  • 1994
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.41
  • -4.9%
  • 1995
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.36
  • +3.1%
  • 1996
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.37
  • -0.4%
  • 1997
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.44
  • -4.9%
  • 1998
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.55
  • -7.2%
  • 1999
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.45
  • +6.6%
  • 2000
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.50
  • -3.1%
  • 2001
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.60
  • -6.0%
  • 2002
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.58
  • +1.2%
  • 2003
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.29
  • +22.8%
  • 2004
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.21
  • +6.7%
  • 2005
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.16
  • +3.6%
  • 2006
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.16
  • +0.3%
  • 2007
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.99
  • +17.0%
  • 2008
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.22
  • -18.6%
  • 2009
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.05
  • +15.9%
  • 2010
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.99
  • +5.7%
  • 2011
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.02
  • -2.2%
  • 2012
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 0.99
  • +2.2%
  • 2013
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.06
  • -6.5%
  • 2014
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.16
  • -8.3%
  • 2015
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.38
  • -16.2%
  • 2016
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.34
  • +3.1%
  • 2017
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.25
  • +7.0%
  • 2018
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.36
  • -8.0%
  • 2019
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.30
  • +5.0%
  • 2020
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.27
  • +2.0%
  • 2021
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.27
  • +0.4%
  • 2022
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.35
  • -6.4%
  • 2023
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.32
  • +2.4%
  • 2024
  • CAD
  • 1
  • 1.44
  • -8.1%