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Bureau of Engraving and Printing Issues New US$20
jea6 writes "Hot off the Western Currency Facility presses in Fort Worth! The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is issuing the new US$20 note to banks today. The newly redesigned Series 2004 $20 notes have background colors (so long, greenbacks) and improved security features. Ask your bank to send a few your way. Unlike the U.S Mint's "Golden Dollar", these notes will be issued to replace the Series 2001 note. Look for a redesigned Grant in 2004 and a new Benjamin in 2005. The US Government is spending $53,000,000 over the next 5 years to make sure everybody knows that this is a real note, so go get acquainted with one."
There will be no recall or devaluation of any U.S. currency. Old or new, all U.S. currency always will be honored at full face value.
So, tell me, if I'm a counterfitter, why wouldn't I just copy the older bills and 'age' them in the washing machine?
Only in America will they spend $35 million dollars to promote something everyone already wants, money.
sin(6cos(r)+5A)
In 2001 they released a new bill design, and said "we want to stay one step ahead of the counterfeiters". Before that the bill had been unchanged for, what, 30 years? And now three years later, they're releasing a new bill? Its being kept hush-hush, but this is a clear sign that our currency is being successfully counterfitted.
The Aussie notes are amongst the best in the world, IMO.
Different colours for different values.
Different sizes for different values.
They're based on Polymer. Put one through the wash, it comes out looking like new. Well, almost.
Some extremely sophisticated anti-counterfeiting techniques.
Our Reserve Bank has even been thoughtful enough to worry about those with vision impairment.
And, they just look cool.
Actually, the colors make sense. When a color marks a certain value, it's easier to distinguish them. With bills all in this greenish color you have to look closely to know which value it has. In fact, this led to a number of tricks to make people believe that they get a US-$ 20 bill, but instead they only got a US-$ 5 bill. So colors do have their advantages. And the Euro proves that colorful bills can look elegant, too.
A monkey is doing the real work for me.
I'm British. I'm used to European money, which is all different colours and different sizes, and in a lot of cases is made out of plastic. You probably don't realise just how weird American money looks to us; it's all the same size, it's all the same colour --- even the material feels odd; thin and papery and not very robust. (Rag paper, isn't it?)
When I last visited the US, dealing with American money was a continual surprise. Normally when I visit another country it doesn't take long before I can recognise notes by colour and size, which makes it much easier to handle. With American money, I kept having to peer at it to work out what it was I was about to hand over. I got the impression that they were designed by someone who knew about ergonomics, but wanted no truck with the idea.
Of course, this is mostly just a matter of being used to a different system (I expect that with some practice you get used to looking at the picture rather than the overall design), but I do wonder how blind and partially sighted people manage.
While this isn't a complete solution, at least the high-denomination notes will look different from the low-denomination notes, which will make it much less easy to, e.g., tip someone a hundred dollars instead of one. (Although whether this is considered a benefit depends which side of the transaction you're standing.)
The US Government is spending $53,000,000 over the next 5 years to make sure everybody knows that this is a real note, so go get acquainted with one."
From the parent post:
Only in America will they spend $35 million dollars to promote something everyone already wants, money.
The other $18 million is being earmarked to fight dyslexia. Or was it $81 million?
I'm generally "Interesting," "Insightful," and even "Funny" here. What the hell happens to me at parties?
Euro - what a shitty name for currency!
Even more creative than "Dollar", because this name was ripped off from the Austrian currency "Taler" that was first established in the 15th century. But Euro on the other side symbolizes unity, a unity of countries with a currency stronger than the dollar (it is way stronger, even OPEC thinks about switching from Dollar to Euro as standard currency).
A monkey is doing the real work for me.
Made from plastic, but designed to feel like paper, they are practically unforgable. They have transparent windows, water marks, textured areas, the whole shibang. If you ever manage to get hold of one, you'll realise just how impossible a task making a replica would be.
Just from the link above, here's the security features of our notes (all of which I think are rather cool):
1. Each polymer note has two transparent windows. One of the transparent windows is oval-shaped and sloping and has the denomination numerals embossed in it. The other clear window is in the shape of a curved fern leaf.
2. There is a fern immediately above the clear fern-shaped window. When you hold the note to the light, the fern should match perfectly with another fern on the other side.
3. You should easily be able to see a shadow image of the Queen when you hold the note to the light.
4. Each note has an individual serial number printed horizontally and vertically.
5. Polymer notes have raised printing, which stands up on the surface and can be felt when you run your fingers over it.
6. Tiny micro-printed letters "RBNZ" should be visible with a magnifying glass.
7. Under an ultraviolet light, the polymer note appears dull. Most commercial papers used in forgeries will glow under an ultraviolet light. However, polymer notes contain special inks, which make particular features glow under an ultraviolet light. For example, the front of each genuine note has a fluorescent patch showing the denomination numerals, which can only be seen under an ultraviolet light.
Looks can be deceiving. Or CAN they?
On your next trip to America, just remember this simple little mathmatical formula:
1 is less than 5 is less than 10 is less than 20 is less than 50 is less than 100
If this still proves to be difficult, just hand over your wallet to one of us and we will audit your currency for you...for a small fee.
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
Oh my, you havent entered many establishments off the border of Canada then.
#1. Girls can "pick up" those loonies/toonies just fine with their orifices.
#2. If you dont like a stripper, throwing one is both cheap and effective.
But since I am going to Vegas for my 21st bday...I will have to master the art of giving the ladies the bills...
I dont think coins go well over there...
[I can picture a world without war, without hate. I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it]