A Canadian banknote has been named the best in the world.

Canada's new $10 bill, which features Human rights activist Viola Desmond on its front and Winnipeg's Canadian Museum for Human Rights on its back, won the 2018 Bank Note of the Year Award, which is voted on by the International Bank Note Society.

It is the first regularly circulating Bank of Canada note to feature an iconic Canadian woman.

The Bank of Canada put out an open call for nominations of who should go on the bill and received approximately 26,000 submissions from across the country, with Nova Scotia civil rights activist Viola Desmond being selected. 

Desmond was arrested, tried, convicted and jailed in 1946 for sitting in an all-white section at a movie theatre and refusing to leave. It wasn't until after her death that she was officially pardoned. 

Canada's new $10 bill was selected from a list of 15 finalists including Argentina, Bolivia, Norway and Switzerland.  The award is voted on by members of the IBNS.

This is the first time in nearly 15 years that a Canadian bank note has been recognized for the top spot.