Our new banknotes will have tactile features
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339464)
Rockingham, Australia
September 15, 2016 7:59pm CST
@owlwings recently posted a discussion on the United Kingdom's new 5 pound bank note. It is now made of plastic. Australia has had plastic notes since 1988 although the term used is 'polymer'. There were problems early on but since a new series were printed in 1992 the difficulties seem to have been overcome.
Our notes have a transparent holographic window in one corner although the newer ones will feature a transparent strip from the top to the bottom of the note. Our latest $5 note also includes a tactile feature to help those who are visually impaired tell the value. This was issued on 1 September 2016, Australia's National Wattle Day.
The next series of notes will all feature raised dots to assist those with sight impairments. All current Australian notes include microprinting as an additional safeguard against counterfeiting. It was interesting while we were travelling to have to deal with several different currencies.
The photo features one of our older notes.
24 people like this
24 responses
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
16 Sep 16
Well that is a very beautiful NOTE - I know they have to change the notes every now and then to prevent more counterfeit notes in circulation but sometimes they loose just a little of the panache of the money in so doing. Plastic money - is that not a CREDIT CARD rather - ha ha ha. We haven't had a new note since 2012 - but its not plastic
3 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
16 Sep 16
As you have noticed, plastic notes are a new thing to us. Ours will still be different sizes so that visually impaired people can tell the difference (a big problem with American bills, I understand) and the new note does have 'tactile' features - the ink of the words 'Five Pounds' over the Queen's head is rough to the touch and I suppose that sensitive fingers might be able to 'read' it, though it might have been better to have the value printed in Braille.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
16 Sep 16
@JudyEv I can't find any raised dot. There are several areas where the print is raised: the "£5" at top left, a circle with a picture of Brittania at bottom left and the lettering "Bank of England" and "Five Pounds" and the portrait of the Queen. I don't know how the £10 will differ, though it will be larger than the £5. I suppose that it will have a different arrangement of raised areas.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
16 Sep 16
not seen our new ones yet though i'm sure I will sooner or later
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
16 Sep 16
@JudyEv they started yesterday - not seen any yet though
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339464)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Sep 16
@arthurchappell I guess it won't be long.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Sep 16
other money is so much cooler looking than american money
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Sep 16
@JudyEv ours. to me, is much plainer.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
16 Sep 16
@JudyEv We still have our coins and paper money.Way behind.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339464)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Sep 16
@silvermist When I had finished writing the previous comment I thought I'd used exactly the same word - money making - but in completely different contexts. No wonder ESL people get muddled.
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@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
16 Sep 16
Wow we still have paper bills, I guess we are as usual a little behind.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
16 Sep 16
@JudyEv and cell phones and electronics, lol in some ways we are very backwards.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339464)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 16
We've had them so long I was surprised to hear the remarks that people hadn't seen them. It's interesting how we can assume things are the same (as ours) the world over. Another great thing about myLot. :)
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Sep 16
That is a very good looking note. I wish we had some alternatives to some we have.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
16 Sep 16
I heard about this on the news. At first I envisioned a hard piece of plastic then thought that didn't make sense. I figured it would have to be flexible.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
16 Sep 16
@JudyEv I would think it would be hard to keep something plastic folded.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339464)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 16
It amuses me that people are microwaving them. To me, it's like touching something that has a 'wet paint' sign on it.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
16 Sep 16
that's wonderful that yer country 'tis doin' that fer those who're sight impaired. sadly such aint so here'n the u.s.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339464)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Sep 16
It shouldn't be all that hard to do really but would be a great help.
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
16 Sep 16
My sister lived in Australia for a while and I remember thinking years ago what a good idea the plastic notes were and also how much I liked the colours and designs of Australian money.
I do like the UK notes too and would prefer them over the boring looking US money any day
1 person likes this
@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
16 Sep 16
We got a 50 polymer note some months ago, at first it felt so different but as time goes by,i like it more and more as it stays near.
Do you still use the note in the photo,looks quite old apart from the colored image on the left hand corner.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339464)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Sep 16
From what I remember of notes when we were overseas, ours are quite nice. I'm glad you agree. :)
