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Greenbacks to add Colour
Ft.com ^ | June 21, 2002 | Jenny Wiggins

Posted on 06/21/2002 9:17:19 AM PDT by mrsppmrxky

US strikes colourful note with new greenback By Jenny Wiggins in New York Published: June 21 2002 0:25 | Last Updated: June 21 2002 0:25

The end of the greenback could be nigh. The US government on Thursday announced plans to introduce other colours on dollar bills to help tourists tell the different notes apart.

"International visitors complain 'We can't tell your denominations apart,'" said the Bureau of Engraving and Printing which will release new versions of the $20, $50 and $100 bills next year.

US notes are all the same colour and size, which makes them hard to distinguish quickly - a boon for swindlers.

The size will not be changed, but the Treasury believes introducing "subtle background colours" will ease the problem and make counterfeiting more difficult.

It will be the first time since 1862, when the first $1 and $2 notes were issued, that another colour has been used.

Green was originally selected because large amounts of green ink were available and because the colour was identified with "the strong and stable credit" of the government, said the bureau.

It is unlikely the US government will emulate the Australians' bright orange $20 notes or the red and purple of the old Dutch 250 Guilder note. The bureau is "not ready" to decide on a colour, "but each denomination will be different."

Colour will also help features that will make the notes harder to fake. The Treasury and Federal Reserve now changes the design of the currency every seven to 10 years to try to deter counterfeiters.

Some $47.5m of counterfeit money entered circulation in the 2001 fiscal year.

The notes will carry portraits and historical images like their predecessors. The $5 and $10 notes may be redesigned in future but $1 notes will for now remain green.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: currency; greenbacks; money; ustreasury
I guess the big numbers are too confusing to distinquish.
1 posted on 06/21/2002 9:17:30 AM PDT by mrsppmrxky
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To: mrsppmrxky
We can call them Rainbacks, and put Jesse Jackson on the $3 bill.
2 posted on 06/21/2002 9:22:32 AM PDT by monkeyshine
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To: mrsppmrxky
My hubby's colorblind. This'll help him ever so much < /sarcasm>
3 posted on 06/21/2002 9:28:57 AM PDT by Catspaw
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To: mrsppmrxky

4 posted on 06/21/2002 9:29:53 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day
Next will be get out of jail free notes. Oh, wait! We already have those.
5 posted on 06/21/2002 9:39:25 AM PDT by Quicksilver
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To: mrsppmrxky
Well, shucks. I was hoping this thread would stay in "latest breaking" because I was curious to see what people thought about the new color changes.

Personally, I really like the stately green monochrome of our currency and I don't want to see it change. I've never had difficulty telling the denominations apart nor have I ever heard anyone else mention having had difficulty with this. The green has worked for 140 years...is this really a new problem?

Anyway, here's a site with a picures of old US currency...

http://www.ronscurrency.com/rc type.htm

...and check out these beauties:

http://www.ronscurrency.com/no tes/large/sc/2_96f.jpg

http://www.ronscurrency.com/no tes/large/sc/5_96f.jpg


6 posted on 06/21/2002 9:42:47 AM PDT by Yardstick
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To: mrsppmrxky
"For many Europeans, however, the homogenization of Europe, the amalgamation of scores of nationalities, cultures, languages, heritages and traditions cause concern: "Even our money is no longer ‘our’ money!"



7 posted on 06/21/2002 9:43:56 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: Yardstick
I'm probably in a distinct minority here, but I always though most European currencies were more attractive from an artistic viewpoint than ours. It was also nice to see portrats other than politicians on the money. For example, the UK had Stevenson (of the Rocket locomotive fame), Faraday (chemistry and electricity) and Elgar (composer) amongst others. Italy had Marconi on its currency (2,000 lira?).

Haven't seen any of the Euro currency yet, as my wife and I are not traveling to Europe until (a) the Eurowimps grow a collective pair and (b) you can fly without the prospect of a body cavity search. Guess it will be a while then.

Of course if we use non-political types on currency, I'm sure it will be so politically correct as to make one sick. The Al Sharpton $5 for example.

Jack

8 posted on 06/21/2002 10:08:54 AM PDT by JackOfVA
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To: JackOfVA
I'm with you on this. Instead of dead politicians I'd much rather see portraits of achievers on the notes- I'll grant that some of the Founding Fathers fall into that category but there are plenty of great Americans who could grace your currency. I always liked the French notes that featured Antoine de St-Exupery and Marie Curie. Canada could have Alexander Graham Bell (discredited over the phone but still granddaddy of aviation here), Mordecai Richler or a host of others. How about putting Neil Armstrong or Werner von Braun on a US banknote? The possibilities are endless.
9 posted on 06/21/2002 11:22:33 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
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To: Quicksilver
>>>>>get out of jail free notes. Oh, wait! We already have those<<<<<

Yes, but the notes are not free

10 posted on 06/21/2002 11:55:37 AM PDT by DTA
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To: mrsppmrxky
green ink [..snip...] was identified with "the strong and stable credit" of the government

Yes, well, clearly green no longer has the same meaning.

11 posted on 06/21/2002 12:59:46 PM PDT by Starwind
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To: JackOfVA
Yeah, I hear what you're saying, and I'll admit that there are people besides presidents whose faces might be interesting to see on our currency.

But I like the stodgy, old-school-ness of the presidents' portraits. Their presence lends a certain sense of gravity and historical weight to our currency -- things I find very appealing when I think of money. Same deal with the conservative green monochrome. It is stately and reserved. Our currency looks like "serious business" to me, more so than those of other countries, which can seem a bit flighty. I guess you could say our currency has gravitas, and I fear it might lose some of that if they tinker with it.

12 posted on 06/22/2002 7:30:39 AM PDT by Yardstick
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