This post is part of the #teamchallenge from #teamaustralia.
Did you know that Australia has one of the most secure and durable bank notes in the world? Australian bank notes come in bright colours, are made from plastic and tend to last around 10 times longer than notes made from paper or fibre. They were developed in a joint venture between the Reserve Bank of Australia and the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), with the first note entering circulation is 1988. So, what might be the advantages of these snazzy and long lasting notes? Well, Iâm glad you asked.
Australian bank notes have more than a pretty face. In-built security features are designed to bamboozle counterfeiters, making them very difficult to copy. And, if youâre vision impaired, a tactile dot on each note ensures that youâre not tipping a fifty when you meant to tip a five!
Last, but I think you will agree, not least, Australian polymer bank notes have once and for all eradicated the laundry lament. You know what I mean. That horrible moment when you realise you have left cash in your jeans pocket, and your jeans are now submerged in a tub of hot, soapy water. The anxiety as you wait for the load to finish and the painstaking surgery required to unfold, and carefully dry the soggy square of cash without ripping or tearing.
Yes, thankfully the ordinary Australian no longer lives in fear of the laundry lament. We can be as forgetful as we like and still have our cash in tip-top condition. We really are the lucky country.
@JustineE Cool, you live in one of lucky countries. I really like Australian bank notes as they are so durable and not damaged when it comes to laundry. Thank you for sharing this post with us.
Hi @JustineE , I love to learn about money history and it was nice to learn this aspect of your country. Iâve read recently the Swiss people keep using cash a lot, despite credit and debit card and other electronic options. Itâs a tradition How is it in Australia?
Thank you for being part of the #LocalGuidesTeamChallenge with this interesting post.
I love your âAustralian no longer lives in fear of the laundry lamentâ that is very true, and it happened to me recently (fortunately just with five Euro).
Finally a good use of plastic materials
The series of post from #TeamAustralia is growing up. Are you planning to write a Team intro? Maybe I just missed it @PaulPavlinovich , @MariaNgo , @PennyChristie (#bossPenny)
Hi @AlexandreCampbell . Thanks for your feedback. In Australia we donât really use cash much anymore. Most places you can just âtap and goâ. That means just tapping your EFTPOS or credit card and not having to sign or enter a pin for amounts less than $100. It is very convenient, but not so great if someone steals your card! Very easy for them to use it. I visited Japan recently and they still mostly use cash. Itâs interesting how different places in the world operate.
Thanks for sharing this interesting story. I wanted to add that the first time I saw money made out of plastic was actually when my friend from Canada visited and showed me their currency. They also have these durable banknotes and I even tried to crease one but nothing happened.
Hi @ErmesT . Thanks for your feedback. Wouldnât it be cool if we could use recycled plastic to make the worldâs bank notes! Imagine how many problems that would solve. Now, just to convince every government on earth of this brilliant idea - lol.
Yes, as a kid I regularly went through the âlaundry lamentâ. Now you just grab your plastic note out of the washing machine and it is in perfect condition!
Iâm not sure about a team intro. Iâll have to ask the others in #teamaustralia. We may have overlooked this to date
Yes @MoniDi . The âlaundry lamentâ is an experience I remember going through on a regular basis as a kid. I figured people with paper money are probably still going through it. I wonder when Canada got their plastic currency? Iâll have to do some research now. Thanks for your feedback!
So @MoniDi , not that Iâm competitive (lol), but Google tells me that Canadaâs first polymer banknote went into circulation in 2011. Thatâs 23 years after Australiaâs first polymer bank note in 1988. You might also be interested to know that Australia doesnât have 1 or 2 cent coins. Our smallest coin is a 5 cent piece. When we pay, amounts are rounded up or down accordingly. Makes our wallets a lot lighter too!
Thanks for sharing @JustineE it was fun to read about the laundry lament this happens to me too often not to know the term for it in English. In Paraguay I think theyâve issued these type of notes as well, not as colorful though.
I enjoy reading through the post and also seeing an attractive Australian money. The plastic note is a great innovation from Australia. I have seen and used one in Nigeria. They are truly flexible and last longer. I would not have to be troubled about my money getting wet . The plastic note removes a lot dirt and stain issues pertinent with paper note.
I really laughed when I read your comment but I wanted to add that I just saw plastic money for the first time when my friend showed them to me. I wasnât saying that the Canadians invented them.
I havenât been to Australia and I learned from you that the banknotes are made out of that material, thanks for that! Regardless, itâs the better option for sure than paper money.
Keep your fingers crossed that I visit Australia some day and I will see them with my own eyes.
This is cool @JustineE I remember that laundry moment when you realised the remains of a lobster were in your sock in bits. Did you know we also make plastic currency for other countries around the world in our mint and license the technology to several more?
Hey @MoniDi . I was just joking about the Canadian money. I understand what you were saying about that being the first time you had seen them. I have a strange sense of humour sometimes.
You must include Cairns in your itinerary if/when you come to Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is amazing and the Daintree Rainforest is like another planet. I would be happy to show you around!
@PaulPavlinovich - Wow! I had no idea we did this in Australia. Now, if we can just recycle that huge mass of plastic in the ocean that they can see from space, and turn that into cash - weâll be laughing.
Lol - I love the key. So very Australian. As a kid, mine were mostly the paper $1 and $2 notes that ended up in the wash. Wasnât very often I had anything bigger than that. Perhaps $1 - krill and $2 - little nipper? Or do you already have a code for these ones?
I know @TanTurner . I didnât know that either until I started researching it. I tried feeling the difference between the $5 and the $10 - it was pretty tricky. Perhaps I just have fat fingers - lol.
this happens to me too often not to know the term for it in English. In Paraguay I think theyâve issued these type of notes as well, not as colorful though.