Canada Rolls Out Plastic Money 444
markian writes "Canada is set to switch to new banknotes that last 2.5 times longer than paper money. High-tech features include metallic imagery in a transparent area, raised ink, transparent text, and hidden numbers. 'If you look through the frosted maple leaf emblem at a single-point light source and hold it close to your eye, you'll see a hidden circle of numbers that match the face value of the note.' The Bank of Canada has more information on the subject. Now if we can just get rid of the penny..."
Been using it for years (Score:4, Interesting)
Came to Australia in 1998 and thought the polymer notes looked like Monopoly money. Having used it for a while it's so much better than the paper stuff. Hardly ever tears, is easy to see how much you have in your wallet just by opening it. Stands out from a wad of receipts.
Whenever I have to go the US I hate having to use those crappy bits of toilet paper that feel like they been stuck to some homeless guy's arse since 1973.
Re:US redesign project (Score:3, Interesting)
Some highlights:
Just For Fun (John K Addis)
http://richardsmith.posterous.com/just-for-fun-john-k-addis-dollar-redeign [posterous.com]
Moving Forward, Looking Back (Sean Flanagan)
http://richardsmith.posterous.com/moving-forward-looking-back-sean-flanagan-dol [posterous.com]
Michael Tyznik
http://richardsmith.posterous.com/dollar-redeign-michael-tyznik [posterous.com]
Michelle Haft
http://richardsmith.posterous.com/dollar-redeign-michelle-haft [posterous.com]
Richard Smith
http://richardsmith.posterous.com/?tag=banknoteredesign [posterous.com]
James Harless
http://richardsmith.posterous.com/james-harless-dollar-redeign [posterous.com]
Sometimes You Can't See the Spots for the Trees (Patrick Timmes)
http://thinkcreatebelieve.blogspot.com/2009/06/patrick-timmes-dollar-redeign-sometimes.html [blogspot.com]
Re:Been using it for years (Score:2, Interesting)
My only beef with them is that some idiots like to fold them 7 times to make them fit inside their purse. They then stay scrunched up when you put them in the till. I worked at a servo for a few years and I *HATED* those people. I also agree that US money is horrible, though the paper notes in Switzerland tend to be quite nice (I think the locals must iron them).
Re:Get rid of the penny? pff (Score:5, Interesting)
Australia got rid of the 1c coin years ago. Prices that used to end in .99 now end in .95, not .00.
Actually its a little bit more complex than that in Australia. Prices that are not a multiple of the smallest coin are still allowed (ie any interger value for cents is OK). At the checkout the final_total_only is rounded (down to the nearest multiple of 5 cents for sales ending in 1c, 2c, 6c, 7c & up to the nearest multiple of 5 cents for sales ending in 3c, 4c, 8c, 9c; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_rounding [wikipedia.org], but only if cash is used for purchase. Electronic payments are charged at the exact total cost. IOW, very little difference to cost of most transactions, but fewer coins required (along with savings for pocket wear and coin production costs).