Where's Wally?

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15782723

The Bank of Canada began circulating $100 polymer banknotes this week in an effort to combat counterfeiting and reduce costs. So why don't more countries use plastic cash?

On the face of it, plastic banknotes have many advantages.

They last a long time, and they don't get dirty so quickly - a great advantage in countries with hot climates, and sweaty pockets.


I think this is really good idea. If for no other reason than I think we've all been trying to get something out of a vending machine only for it to refuse every single we have for no clear reason. That said, the enhanced durability and anti-counterfeiting measures that such bills put in place are also a strong benefit.

On the downside making such bills is more expensive which would make it harder to put in place in poorer countries. But those countries always tend to be a step or two behind anyway so it can't really be helped. But I do think this is a good idea for developed nations. The more of them that adopt such measures would help improve the technology and ultimately lower costs so that everyone can get in on the act.

Points to Canada for taking the lead on this.

Comments

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

But it's about Canada! That makes you a little rage-full. Or at least mock-full.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Forget that, man! The maple leaf worshippers spell "check" with a Q! There must be blood!

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

he's more incensed over us putting the maple leaf on everything.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Canadians and Americans are both fond of doing that. We should keep it up just to annoy the Europeans.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

It's ok. You can let it oot.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

DQ.

[thies.livejournal.com]

you mean credit cards?

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

But some of us love Canada!

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Well some of you have taste ;o)

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

You have a black President. Who's the liberal?

[omnot.livejournal.com]

Is Canada in turn giving props to Australia for developing and switching to polymer bank notes over twenty years ago?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_banknote

I commend them as a concept. Along with having notes of different sizes and colours to help differentiate between denominations (especially useful for vision-impaired people).

I will say that they can be slippery and that their resilience can lead to them springing out of your hands/wallet in an inconvenient way. But that may have been the earlier versions, or perhaps I just got used to handling it a little more carefully, as I have not noticed that springiness being a problem for ages now.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Be that as it may, Canada now has the most high tech bank notes on the planet. So Australia is still kinda behind.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Yessss! We're #1! We're #1. US...errr Ca-na-da!

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

The raised printing is more pronounced with the higher denominations to help the vision impaired too. You can tell how much you have by feel.

Not a problem for small countries...

[brockulfsen.livejournal.com]

They just buy them from somewhere like Australia just as they're always done with banknotes and coins.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

It will still have Bob on the $100, so it's alright with me.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Does it take oil to make them and what company paid off what politician to get to be the supplier of the materials.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

Oil sands to the rescue!

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Whatever company that's #1 in oil in Canada, I assume.

[eracerhead.livejournal.com]

I think an even better idea would be to substitute poker chips for Euros.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

You'd get Monaco's support.

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

It's not that expensive to have plastic money. Romania has all its money in plastic notes since about 6 years ago and they were produced in Australia I think.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

The idea of having your national currency produced outside the nation is weird to me, for some reason.

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's pretty weird. In the EU it seems every other country produces banknotes for some other countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_banknotes#Issuance_and_printing

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

It if proof of unworthiness!

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

We've had them for decades. I *hate* paper money, you have to remember to take your wallet out of your pocket before getting drunk and jumping into rivers.