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The Devil's In the Details: The Story of the Devil's Face Last Updated: 04/18/2013 |
For almost 60 years, Canada’s 1954 bank notes have been a subject of discussion throughout the numismatic community. Detailed lines in the engraving of Queen Elizabeth II’s hair were thought to resemble the face of a devil, leading to notions of controversy within the government and monarchy. The famed “Devil’s Face” was eventually removed from the original engraving, and new bank notes were issued bearing a modified portrait of the monarch. While tales of the source and reason behind this artistic blunder swirl, primary sources reveal that this was in fact a mere coincidence, and may not have been the ‘instant’ controversy that is now taken for granted by collectors.
The story of the Devil’s Face portrait for the 1954 bank
note series actually began in Once the photographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth was finalized, preparation for the bank note began at the British American Bank Note Company. Art Director George Arthur Gundersen was given the task of recreating the portrait as an engraving for the final bank note production.4 Gundersen’s engraving reveals a detailed replication of the retouched Brigden’s portrait, with no sign to modification of the Queen’s hair style (Figure 3).
Following the fall release of the new banknotes in 1954, our research could not find any immediate mention of controversy in popular media. It was not until almost two years later, in the spring of 1956, that the notion of a devil’s face was brought into the spotlight. On March 27, 1956, it was reported by the Toronto Daily Star on page 3 that a “Devil’s Face, leering from the Queen’s curls” was “brought to Commons’ attention” (Figure 5).6 This sparked several mentions in Canadian and American newspapers in the following weeks, each devoting a small statement which recognized the issue and reported that the Bank of Canada officials had been made aware of the fact. As noted in the April 5, 1956 issue of the Kingsville Reporter, “only four or five people have brought to their [The Bank of Canada’s] attention the fact that a face is clearly discernible in the lines of the Queen’s hair” (Figure 6).7 With little media fanfare, the portrait on the 1954 notes was modified by engraver Yves Baril of the Canadian Bank Note Company. The highlights found in the Queen’s hair were darkened, erasing any sign of the devil’s face, as noted in the July 4, 1957 issue of the Ottawa Citizen (Figure 7).8 With this new engraving, modified banknotes were issued by the Bank of Canada; however, the original 1954 notes were never recalled and remained in circulation. Discussions of the Devil’s Face bank notes appear to have
subsided in 1957. Through in-depth analysis of primary sources of the time, it is evident that the devil’s face occurred by sheer coincidence. In looking at the original Karsh photograph, the highlights in Queen Elizabeth’s hair are the same as those that appear in the engraving, and could ultimately be interpreted as a devil face by some. The exacting reproduction by Gundersen is only a testament to his outstanding artistic skill, as evidenced by the meticulous reproduction of subtle nuances in the monochromatic portrait. If not for the discerning (and imaginative) eye of four or five sources who registered the issue with the Bank of Canada, this “controversy” may never have been brought to light. As for Klenman’s statement of European engravers with ulterior motives, it should be noted that George Gundersen was born a Canadian citizen and lived in Ottawa for most of his life.11 As a noted figure in the numismatic community, perhaps Klenman sensationalized the story to enhance the collector value of the 1954 bank notes, giving rise to a fable that still remains today. The truth about the 1954 devil’s face series of notes is that it is a classic example of the circumstances that can make a ‘collector’ item, which follow the most basic rules of supply and demand economics. The supply of these notes was cut short by the Bank of Canada’s action to modify the portrait in the first place, thereby forestalling what would have certainly been a very long and prolific series of banknotes. Also, the perceived controversy of the devil’s face itself, whether created or merely highlighted by individuals such as Allan Klenman, brought the notes into the public eye, thereby creating a demand. These two factors have served not only to increase the value of the 1954 devil’s face series, but to create a ‘must-have’ category of banknotes for any serious collector of Canadian currency. ![]()
1 The Estate of Yousuf Karsh, http://www.karsh.org/#/the_work/major_sittings/. October 25, 2012.
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