[A short note for Australians or easily offended people: you guys know me well enough to know that the following is incredibly tongue-in-cheek, right?]
I guess you had to be there to understand it. When decimal currency was introduced in the 60s, we had 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent coins, each increasing in size as well as value. However, when they introduced the $1 coin, they didn't know what to do about size. Making it bigger than the 50c would be ridiculous, so they decided to make it the size of a 10c, but twice the thickness and a different colour. It was at that time that they eliminated the 1 and 2 cent coins. Then, when they introduced the $2 coin, they had the same problem. It's more expensive to make bigger coins, so they went again smaller but thicker. It's strange to view it now, but it did make sense, kinda, when they did it.
As for the plastic money, Australian bills have always been different colours and sizes (you'll note that the bills increase sightly in size with value). We do call it Monopoly Money, but what do you expect when it's plastic? It does make it very hard to rip though, which can be a good thing.
Ah! I have to admit, I wasn't expecting anything remotely as informative as that when I was making the post. :) That was pretty cool actually, thank you! I suppose if I'd actually bothered to visit the Perth Mint I might have had this explained to me already. :-/
As for the plastic notes, the other major benefit to them is that if they accidentally go through the wash in a trouser pocket or something I imagine it would be very difficult to tell. On the downside it makes them immune to note-checker pens, but if the plastic money is more difficult to counterfeit than paper money then I suppose it might all balance out?
Comments 5
I guess you had to be there to understand it. When decimal currency was introduced in the 60s, we had 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent coins, each increasing in size as well as value. However, when they introduced the $1 coin, they didn't know what to do about size. Making it bigger than the 50c would be ridiculous, so they decided to make it the size of a 10c, but twice the thickness and a different colour. It was at that time that they eliminated the 1 and 2 cent coins. Then, when they introduced the $2 coin, they had the same problem. It's more expensive to make bigger coins, so they went again smaller but thicker. It's strange to view it now, but it did make sense, kinda, when they did it.
As for the plastic money, Australian bills have always been different colours and sizes (you'll note that the bills increase sightly in size with value). We do call it Monopoly Money, but what do you expect when it's plastic? It does make it very hard to rip though, which can be a good thing.
Reply
As for the plastic notes, the other major benefit to them is that if they accidentally go through the wash in a trouser pocket or something I imagine it would be very difficult to tell. On the downside it makes them immune to note-checker pens, but if the plastic money is more difficult to counterfeit than paper money then I suppose it might all balance out?
Reply
But I never could manage it.
Reply
Whaaaaaaaaaaat!? That's... that's just not BRITISH!
Oh, wait. Carry on!
Reply
Knew you'd get it. ;)
Reply
Leave a comment