100 Dollars

The 1954 series replaced the 1937 issue and introduced a uniform design approach across all denominations — a deliberate move toward a more cohesive national identity in paper currency. Almost immediately, the series ran into trouble: a shadow effect in the hair of the portrait, caused by the engraving technique, was widely interpreted by the public as a leering devil's face. The Bank of Canada quietly modified the master die, and notes from the corrected plates are distinguished from the earlier "Devil's Face" variety — a distinction that now drives significant price differences between the two.

The Coyne–Beattie signature combination dates to the period when James Coyne's tenure as Governor ended in controversy, forced out in 1961 following a very public dispute with the Diefenbaker government over monetary policy.