I read somewhere recently that back in the 1950’s, the Canadian government had to withdraw the Canadian $5 bill from circulation, because a certain tinfoil-in-the-hat-wearing contingent of the population swore they could see Satan in the engraving, in the swirls of Queen Elizabeth’s hair.
A. Did they really withdraw the note?
B. Was that the real reason?
C. << breathlessly >> Could you really see Satan?
wow.
that’s strange indeed.
http://www.bank-banque-canada.ca/english/banknotes/general/character/1954.htm
Can’t answer A or B, but I was at a coin collection counter where I was shown one of these evil bills. You could sort of make something out I guess. I beleive it was known as “A Devils Haircut”, but maybe it was just in my mind 
Fabulous! A six-pack of beer to Kilgore. 
It’s wonderful when what “somebody says” turns out to be the Straight Dope.
Next logical question is: Why didn’t someone notice this before it got to the printing and distribution stage?
Can anyone see the face in the picture at the link above?
I sure can’t.
probably for the same reason that no-one noticed the demonic symbolism of Procter & Gamble’s “moon & stars” logo: only a few wackos would even think this was really a problem.
on a related note, when the $5 bill in the 1986 series came out, a rumour started circulating that the engraver had put a US flag flying over the Parliament buildings, in the background to Prime Minister Laurier. It was actually the Red Ensign, which was the flag of Canada at the time Laurier was PM, and the combination of canton and field looked similar to the Stars & Stripes, in such a small image.
Now that the $1, $2, and $1000 bills have been withdrawn from circulation, the Queen is only on the $20 bill; all the rest have dead Prime Ministers.
To see the demon, you do have to use your imagination a little. It helps if you maximize the screen. The face is looking off the screen to the right. There are 2 “v” shapes in it, top and bottom. The top V looks kind of like squinched-up eyebrows, the bottom V looks kind of like a pursed-up grin, with a weird-looking nose in the middle of all this.
I just don’t see it. I have tried and tried. Maybe I need a foil hat.
I can sort of see something that kind of looks a little like a not-too-friendly visage facing to our right. But honestly it looks a heck of a lot more like a baby elephant facing to our left and nibbling on her ear.
Seeing faces in things is pretty natural, though some people can’t pull it off so well. Its just like seeing Abraham Lincoln in a cloud. Humans are hard-wired to recognize faces, once they get something resembling 2 eyes and a nose suddenly an entire face appears. I get a big kick out of those cloud nebula photos, I see all sorts of weird shit.
Then again I also think the carving makes the Queen look a lot like Minnie Driver.
Can someone please get HorseloverFat a foil hat?
Eh, it’s looks more like a goat’s face than Satan’s.
Satan has posted his picture on the SDMB. He doesn’t look old enough to have been born in the fifties, let alone being pictured on currency from the era. Of course, being Satan, he is as old as the ages and can look any way he wants to.
I’m with Horsefat. I don’t see it.
Can I get one of them hats too?
**
I see it, but I always picture Janet Reno as a drag queen too.
“Queen Liz, Queen Liz, throw down your hair. Your beautician is a satinist and put Beelezebub there!”