Despite having only a quarter of the artifacts compared to the former Currency Museum, the newly redesigned Bank of Canada Museum offers a complete story about Canada’s economy and everyone’s role within it. The new museum and its reimagined focus allows the bank to showcase a greater variety of material from the National Currency Collection, said Paul Berry, the museum’s chief curator. “It is important to set the context for visitors so that they can understand how and where they fit into Canada’s economy,” said Berry, who added the new museum is focused on delivering messages about the economy (whereas the former museum focused on currency and its evolution around the world). Its interactive approach blends 1,400 carefully selected artifacts alongside interactive exhibits, games and other displays to teach visitors about the economy’s “immensity and intricacy.” Along the way, visitors learn about their role in the system and are given an opportunity to “grasp the multi-faceted role played by the Bank of Canada.” Berry said among his favourite new pieces on display is a 1914 Keirstead and Mersereau Fox and Fur Company of Canada share certificate, which he purchased for the National Currency Collection in 2015. Continue reading →
One of the new artifacts on display at the new Museum is the ‘holy grail’ of Canadian coins – a specimen 1936 dot cent.
