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Plastic Money
Submitted by fyl on Sat, 2009/05/23 - 10:46.
While we heard about the C$200 note and have seen the C$10 coin, it seems there are now at least new and very different C$10 and C$20 bills. I hesitate to call it "paper money" as it is more like plastic.
It would seem to be secure (serial number in two places, one with a font that changes size, holograms and varied colors) and it feels more durable than paper. It also should be less of a germ collection mechanism.
I have heard that non-Sandinistas say it is not real because it is not the specified size in the monetary law and that it doesn't have the signature of the right person. Apparently the wrong person is the president of the central bank.
To me, the not real issue seems pretty unimportant. I don't see anyone else printing things that look like this and being backed by the central bank seems like what is needed. My only concern (which really has nothing to do with this "new type" of money) is whether the government, like the U.S. government seems to like to do, is just printing more money in order "to have money".
This
is by far the best 20 I have ever seen.
Keylita ;)
I'm to the point where I am
I'm to the point where I am reluctant to accept the old, grungy 20s they have been passing around for twice their useful life. I cringe every time I have to put one in my pocket. As for the 10s, it's a tossup. The coins surely eased the problem of short-lived paper, but more coins for the pocket wasn't the complete answer either. I really think it's time to replace all the paper with the plastic stuff. My only question is, why do they make the bills different sizes? Is this some blind friendly attempt, or is it just a lack of forethought?
the 10s and twenties are out
the other bills are coming soon. This ¨polimer¨money has been tried elsewhere in Latin America and holds up better that the old currency paper.
The 10 cord bill is a waste, because the coin works just fine and will circulate longer. At least it has a pretty design. As a tourist souvenir it could be a close second to the 1 Lempira bill of Honduras!
The US has simlar problems which it is too hairbrained to fix. The cent coin costs more to make than it is worth, the 50 cent coin has been a joke for decades, and the dollar bill needs to be replaced with a good looking, uniform coin. Canada has had a dollar coin and a $2 bill for years; the US just can´t figure it out.
¨Pata de Perro¨
100s and new 200s
have been circulating for a few weeks. Both have pleasant designs befitting a country trying to clean up its image and promote tourism.
The 200 cord note, in addition to being very practical because 500c notes can be hard to cash, is very pretty, with a folklorico design on obverse and a tropical bird on reverse.
Somehow the 100 cord is less ¨plastic feeling¨than the others, but all should hold up fairly well in this climate.
¨Pata de Perro¨
the 50, 100, 500
the 50, 100, 500 are still printed on cotton-based paper and not the polymer. I can't find an explanation as to why though. The Central Banks www has interesting info on the changeover.
http://www.bcn.gob.ni/moneda/circulacion/