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Canada Rolls Out Plastic Money

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..."

8 of 444 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing new here by HappyClown · · Score: 5, Informative

    Australia has had polymer banknotes since 1988, and in fact it's an Australian company that will be supplying these notes to Canada. Polymer banknotes have been used to varying degrees in 27 countries prior to Canada.

  2. Re:Been using it for years by ian_from_brisbane · · Score: 5, Funny

    Scratch that, I mis-read your post. I'm sure you know what year YOU came to Australia.

  3. Re:Get rid of the penny? pff by Michael+Wardle · · Score: 4, Informative

    Doubtful. A lot of prices end in .99 not because that's the store's actual cost, but because apparently many customers think 4.99 is $4, not $5.

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

    Australia got rid of the 1c coin years ago. Prices that used to end in .99 now end in .95, not .00.

  4. Re:Been using it for years by ezzthetic · · Score: 4, Funny

    There's a big problem with polymer notes that should have been forseen by the Mint. You can't light a cigar with a hundred dollar bill without passing out from the fumes.

    --
    You know what they say about opinions. They're all fabulous!
  5. Re:Mexico by geekoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ducks with prosthetics may also use plastic bills.

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    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  6. Re:You're already making more progress... by iCEBaLM · · Score: 4, Informative

    Celsius is problematic because the degrees are too large, thus not really a better system, and is actually separate from the metric system anyway, so I wouldn't count that fact.

    Celsius is an official SI derived unit of measurement for temperature, and therefore is part of the metric system.

  7. Re:Get rid of the penny? pff by b1keshr3dder · · 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, 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).

  8. Re:But on the bright side... by frozentier · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, but unfortunately the value is about the same.