Ugly New Twenties

Is anyone else as annoyed as I am about the hideous re-design of the $50 and $20 bills? It will eventually trickle down to all currency. The excuse is, "it's more difficult to counterfeit," but why did they have to take away all the lovely 19th-century graphic elements, enlarge and scarify the portrait, and generally make them look like play money?

If they were going to change U.S. currency, why not do what every other country does and have different denominations in different colors? Now, that would make sense!

I also read that no artists or designers were consulted on the re-design; just government wonks. So--with no say from the U.S. taxpayers!--we now have hideous, clunky, ill-designed currency, an embarrassment to our country and a blot in our wallets.

[Keeves]

why did they have to make them look like play money? why not have different denominations in different colors? Now, that would make sense!Ummm... let's back up a step. Are you saying that different colors would not look like play money?

Methinks any change at all would have upset you.

[tanstaafl]

I, for one, could care less what my money looks like as long as it spends. The only feature I care about is the number in the corner; beyond that the picture could be made by someone sitting on a xerox machine for all I care.

[torq]

I don't like the backs (they look "plain" compared to the old ones... all that white space bothers me), and somehow the print quality doesn't seem as high, particularly the seal, which looks like it was done on a leaky inkjet printer.

On the other hand, I sort of like the larger portrait (though I'm not sure the engraving quality is quite up to snuff compared to the old ones). The color-shift ink is also pretty cool.

[BunnyGirl]

I like the new $20's; I just wish I could actually see them in my purse more often.

[Ukulele Ike]

Ho hum, here I am agreeing with McFlimsey again, folks'll start to think we're the same person.

The centennial grace of U.S. currency (meaning it looks like it was printed in 1876) has been cast aside for the typeface of a corporate logo. This offends my aesthetic sense, but seems appropriate to fin de siecle America. All changes made to ANYTHING in this country post-1940 have been to make things uglier.

"You can keep all your smart modern writers...give me William Shakespeare." Ray Davies, "20th Century Man"

[dougie_monty]

It isn't fancy, but it's good.
If you look carefully at the new currency design you will see anti-counterfeiting measures have been taken, which have nothing to do with aesthetics:
1) The thin ribbon actually inside the bill (which they actually started using before the design change).
2) The watermark. That is why there is white space. (Although I believe every $20 bill has a different likeness of Jackson--almost as if they had been applied to the bills by hand, one at a time!)
3) The ink on the number 20 in the lower right, on the front, that changes color depending on the angle you look at it from.
4) Microprinting, which (as Cecil said) can't be picked up by copiers.
Granted most of this could have been accomplished with the older design. But then the United States is the only country not to have changed its paper-money designs since World War I!

Ah, it's so nice to be back on the same team as my dear Ike, after our smoking and Lupe Velez fall-outs!

"McFlimsey," huh? Not even "Miss" McFlimsey?

[matt_mcl]

Hey, I'll have you know that Canadian money, being multicoloured, is a hell of a lot easier for visually impaired people to tell apart than uniformly green US money. Even if they can't see the bill, they can tell that if it's blue, it's a $5; if it's mauve, it's a $10, and if it's green, it's a $20. (Besides, it's prettier that way.)

[Ukulele Ike]

So sorry, my dove, I was going for the "chummy" thang. I'd offer to kiss and make up, but I misplaced the Sen-Sen.

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Uke

[JAB]

I much prefer the new bills, and wish they'd get the rest of them out.

Many people have already commented on other aspcts, so I'll restrict myself to the portrait. The old "classic" portraits were too easy to counterfeit, so they wanted to go with a larger and more detailed portrait.

Thank you, Matt, I've been saying for years that multi-colored currency would make sense!

As far as the counterfeiting, I still notice merchants doing the old Magic Marker test on the new $20s, so I guess they still don't trust 'em.

I fully intend to be one of those cranky old ladies who says, "Well, everything was better back in the 20th century!" I'm getting a head-start . . . .

[Carl Berry]

It's a plot! The new bills are so ugly that we won't take them to other countries, but will exchange them for forgein money here. That way domestic money changers get the fee. Our new bills compare with foreign currency less even than the old! We should have the best looking of all!

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Zymurgist

All changes made to ANYTHING in this country post-1940 have been to make things uglier.

Watch it, Ike. You're just a short step away from the words "back in my day..."

Personally, I don't think the government could have gotten away with multi-colored currency, regardless of the benefits. Consider how much resistance there is to the minor changes that were made.

[ChiefScott]

Different sizes for each denomination would be even better for the visualy impaired. Italian currency is sized and colored differently for each denomination. But I guess the powers-that-be feel too much change is bad.

[Germ Boy]

I agree totally with Flora in every way.

Now dearie, send me all those nasty new twenties and I'll send you all my old wrinkled bills.

Remember the S.A.S.E

[Babar714]

When's the new commemorative dollar coin coming out (not of the closet)? I understand it has Sacajawea (sp?) and child. I hear it's gold colored and is faceted, as in not a smooth circle. Anyone know?

[Babar714]

Oh, and I love the new bills. They're all so new and crisp. I saw a documentary on them, and I believe artists did design them. Gov't artist, but artists nonetheless. They are etched into a metal plate with precision tools, and the originals are reverse images. So, it did take some artisan skill.

[Harmonious Discord]

I spend all the old twenties first and save the new ones till last. I prefer the new design. When's the next state quarter due for release?

[whitetho]

The first Geogias are just appearing--my brother got one in Washington, DC. Next after that is Connecticut.

[hansel]

Many European countries have moved to similar, modernist designs, but they've made the money more colourful. More importantly, they've taken politicians off the bills, and replaced them with great figures from science and the arts. The last idea strikes me as best.

On colored money: as a Canadian living in the states, it took me six months to get in the habit of inspecting the denominations of my bills instead of looking at the colour (and to quit handing over twenties instead of ones: only one merchant ever stopped me; I wonder how many didn't).

[MrKnowItAll]

I think most people that think the new bills are ugly will get over it after awhile. I don't think they're ugly, just different. The thing that bothers most people, IMHO, is the asymetrical layout on the front. This will just take a little getting used to.

As for getting the taxpayers to make decisions about what design to use, have you taken a really good look at the quality of people we send to the White House? Obviously, our decision making capabilities leave something to be desired.



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Carpe hoc!

[Joey P]

Even with all the new technology (don't gorget blue and red fibers woven in to the bill) my friend still managed to photocopy some and pass them off to a pizza delivery man.

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Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB

[mblischke]

Personally, I like the new bills. I'll admit the back of the new twenty looks kind of plain.

[Babar714]

Hey, Joey. You might want to be careful about that. The Secret Service doesn't joke about these things. If an agent reads this, you might be noticing large men in dark glasses and suits everywhere you go.

[Joey P]

That's okay, he already got caught. (Had his room raided for other things and they came across the money). So it would kinda be the double jepordy thing. Besides just think about the scanner thread.

Can you say fedral pen?

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Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB

[Big Iron]

The new bills bite -- yuppie food stamps, I call 'em.

If they ever change the color, Wotan help us all ...

No, Keeves, I don't dislike change, I dislike UGLY change for no reason, and ill thought-out change. Changing the colors of the denominations would make sense. Making the new bills butt-ugly does not. Mblischke, if you like the new bills, you must be the sort of person who prefers Jasper Johns to Titian. Me, give me classic art over kindergarten splashes any day.

[EnigmaOne]

{{{Even with all the new technology (don't gorget blue and red fibers woven in to the bill) my friend still managed to photocopy some and pass them off to a pizza delivery man. }}}---Joey P

I prefer the new ones myself.

Uh-huh, cheap bubble-jet prints have been passed at the liquor store near me too, along with some made up on a Canon CLC. Now those are pretty damn good! Xerox has nothing on those Canon guys. The owner of the store even tried pawning 'em off on ME once. I showed him all the neat counterfeit detection features that he didn't bother checking--not to mention the basic feel of the bill--and took my change in Susan B. Anthony's.

Hope your buddy enjoys his experience with the penile system.


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--Kalél
(The Original EnigmaOne)
Common ¢ for all ages.

[dougie_monty]

Hey, Joey P: What is the status about your friend's case? If his home was searched per a warrant and the counterfeit money was not in plain sight, the police may have violated his Fourth Amendment rights ("...particularly describing the...property to be seized...")
If he has already hired an attorney, I hope the attorney brings this up in court. (Not that I condone counterfeiting...)

[Joey P]

Well I'm really not sure about the status. But his family hired a very good lawyer so I'm not to worried. I do know that he has to take weekly drug tests though. (not because if the money, the room was origanally busted because of the smell of pot smoke coming under the door) Also this happened on a college campus in a dorm room if it makes a difference. Luckily I happend to have left the room about 10 mins before the police came in.

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Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB

[eggo]

>>I still notice merchants doing the old Magic Marker test on the new $20s, so I guess they still don't trust 'em.

I fully intend to be one of those
<<

ok what is the "magic Marker test"?

[Sonic]

I just think it's kind of disturbing that Kermit the frog is the spokesman (Or as they say, "spokesfrog") for the new quarters. Anyone see those adds?

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Remember- If you're angry it takes 42 muscles to frown, and only a few muscles to smack the idiot that mad you angry in the first place.

[eggo]

ok look at the back of two 20's, a new one and an old one. do you notice anything? the "white house" on the back is different!! what the hell?

eggo

[moriah]

Flora McFlimsey posted:

Is anyone else as annoyed as I am about the hideous re-design of the $50 and $20 bills? ... The excuse is, "it's more difficult to counterfeit,"

Not an excuse but a very, very good reason for redesigning. It was a mandate given to the Treasury since the U.S. was beginning to loose megabucks to counterfeiters, many of whom represent hostile countries. Given that 'excuse,' they better damned well have redesigned the greenbacks or I'd be voting out the irresponsible incumbents who are letting the U.S. be virtually burgled.


...but why did they have to take away all the lovely 19th-century graphic elements, enlarge and scarify the portrait, and generally make them look like play money?

What's quaint turn-of-the-century American Gothic to you is just plain old busy to me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

However, aesthetics had nothing to do with that decision -- anti-counterfeiting measures did. The face was enlarged because people can spot a bad copy of a face easier than they can a bad copy of ornate curlicues.

If they were going to change U.S. currency, why not do what every other country does and have different denominations in different colors? Now, that would make sense!

I also read that no artists or designers were consulted on the re-design; just government wonks. So--with no say from the U.S. taxpayers!--we now have hideous, clunky, ill-designed currency, an embarrassment to our country and a blot in our wallets.

Ummm, the government does hire specialists in design. They are artists. You don't think that some paper-pusher did the engraving and layout on a Mac, did you?

The Treasury did, at first, consider radical changes. Then the arguments ensued. If Grant is removed, who should replace him? Kennedy? King? Warhol?

They finally decided it was easier, and, more importantly, more faithful to their original mandate to only make design changes that would spoil counterfeiting, rather than to actually change the currency.

That's why no color change -- there was no anti-counterfeiting reason to do so, especially since most copiers still have a hard time reproducing this particular shade of green.

And, perhaps I may suggest that you may be falling for the old "I like what I know" phenomenon. Before the new bills came out, did you really think the U.S. currency was particularly attractive? The next generation, growing up with the new bills will one day come across an old bill and say, "Wow, that's ugly. The face is so tiny. And the bill is cluttered with lace. It looks like my Great Grandmother McFlimsey's bedroom!" :)

Peace.

Oh, and eggo -- the White House has a front and back. ;)

[eggo]

>>Oh, and eggo -- the White House has a front and back.
<<

oh. damn i hate being shot down. i still say it's more fun to think they skrewed it up.

Actually, Moriah, I DID admire the old currency. I was trained as an artist, and when waiting in lines would sometimes pore over the old money and think how lovely the engraving was, and the details were. I still say there must have been SOME way to counterfeit-proof them without "dumbing them down." And from what I hear, fakes are already being distributed hand over fist, so it was all for naught.

[Joey P]

Warhol???????
Why would the put Warhol on the 20?

And another thing. It really doesn't matter how much security stuff they put on a bill, unless the cashiers check for it. I've seen cashiers take money that doesn't not look real (infact one was all different colors and had a naked women on the front) and doesn't even feel real (which is how most people acutally spot conterfeit). So if they're going to put all this spending into conterfeit proofing the dollar they should offer classes for people to take to learn how to check all of it and tell the difference between real money and fake money. And for that matter they should learn how to do it quickly so they don't have to do a 10 point inspection on every dollar.
The other thing is people have to learn WHAT to do when they find fake money. So people are to emabarresed to say anything (same as a CC singnature and the customer singnature not matching).
For example my uncle is a cop and he was giving a course to sales people (were talking like teenagers here) what to do about shoplifting). The first thing he did was ask how many people have seen shoplifters. A lot of people raised their hands. Then he asked what they did about it and most people basically just said they did nothing cuz they didn't know what to do. (BTW same things happend to me, I saw a lady grab two things of breath mints from right in front of me and put them in her purse and I had no idea what to do so I just let it go. To this day that still bothers me)

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Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB