> From: Russell Chapman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Robert Seeberger wrote: > > >Over the years, counterfeiters have graduated from offset printing to > >increasingly sophisticated color copiers, computer scanners, color ink jet > >printers and publishing-grade software - all readily available. > >When new bills are issued, the old bills remain in circulation until they > >wear out. The government is working with industry to make sure new bills can > >be read by ATMs and vending machines. > >
> I'm not sure why they persist with paper. We use polymer notes, which > last many times longer and are pretty much impossible to counterfeit. > They have holographic logos, clear panels and various other features > that can be readily seen during a transaction and which can't be > duplicated, and our mint now exports these notes to a number of other > countries ( in their own denominations, of course) > ATMs etc all seem to handle them better than paper notes too. (and we > have always had brightly coloured notes since the dollar replaced the > pound in 1966). Doesn't matter. The counterfitters will still use the same methods that work now and get away with it, and the end end result will be a big waste. There is less than $50 million in counterfit money made each year. The last time they changed the bills, it cost the industry $350 Million, to replace billchangers / vending machines 6 years ago. Do the math. And they plan to repeat this process, ever six years or so. The color thing is really irritating. It won't stop counterfitting in any concieveable way. The main reason they are doing it is because of Stupid illiterate foreigners who can't read the 15 places the value of bill is printed in large type on the bill. Do you really want people to be able to tell from a distance how much money you have, or withdrew from an ATM? At least the muggers can now be happy.
