[oclug] [OT] polymer notes

[Robert Brockway]

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004, Matt Rose wrote:

> My dad carries a Kiwi $10 bill in his wallet for the same purpose.  He's
> the head of the Trade Mission in Kenya, and he has it to demonstrate it's
> resiliency to foreign govs.

It's amazing the countries that have taken to polymer notes.  I read
Mexico is starting to release them.  A Romanian friend brought a Romanian
note for me which was polymer.

> Makes me wonder why the Canadian Gov doesn't do the same thing.  I'd like

I guess the initial rollout must be quiet expensive however there are
plenty of savings to be made later:

1.  Counterfeiting is far more difficult as has been noted
2.  The notes last on average 4 times as long as paper notes (but cost
    twice as much so the net result is a halving of costs).
3.  Other reasons I've forgotten :)

It's even been suggested the US will go polymer one day but there are
quite large vested interests from paper manufacturers there.  Not to
mention the fact that their notes are in use all over the world all the
time.

Cheers,
	Rob

-- 
Robert Brockway B.Sc. email: robert at timetraveller.org, zzbrock at uqconnect.net
Linux counter project ID #16440 (http://counter.li.org)
"The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens" -Baha'u'llah