Three rare Saskatchewan banknotes – each issued on the very day the Weyburn Security Bank opened in 1911 – have made their way back home in a remarkable story of local heritage, private collecting, and institutional pride. The $5, $10, and $20 notes, once lost to history, are now reunited with their original parent company – the Weyburn Security Company Limited — thanks to Regina numismatist George Manz.
The now defunct Weyburn Security Bank, once a proud prairie institution with deep American roots, was born from the ambition of South Dakota and Minnesota settlers. After securing a bank charter in 1910, the institution began issuing notes at nine branches across southern Saskatchewan. These notes, printed by the American Bank Note Company and carefully monitored for wear, became a source of pride – and now, of rarity.
With only 55 Weyburn notes known to survive today, these three – graded and confirmed among the finest known – are exceptional. The $5 note shows a train steaming through a city scene, while the $10 and $20 pieces depict allegorical and classical imagery that speaks to a bygone era of artistry in banking. Formerly thought lost or scattered among private collections, their return is not just a sale – it’s a repatriation of heritage. And it all began with one collector’s deep respect for the story behind the notes.
Find out how the deal came together, why these notes are so rare, and what this means for collectors and historians alike – only in the latest issue of Canadian Coin News. Subscribe today to read the full story and gain access to the latest market insights, collection highlights, and expert interviews from across Canada’s numismatic world.