# $20 bill to get new coloring **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182 "2002-06-21T02:07:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/1 "2002-06-21T02:07:40Z")
According to an AP story, the $20 bill will get new “subtle background colors” to try and foil counterfeiters. No word on what the colors will be. Sky blue? Orange? Limegreen? Deepink? Indigo? I think that the American people should get to vote on it. Oh, if this isn’t the proper place for this thread, then please move it. But please, be gentle.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/2 "2002-06-21T02:30:59Z")
> [@](#): > > In keeping with their strategy of maintaining the security of Federal Reserve notes by enhancing the design of U.S. currency every seven to ten years, the Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Bureau) and the Federal Reserve Board today announced plans to release the next generation of redesigned notes, with improved security features to deter counterfeiting. Source: [http://www.bep.treas.gov/document.cfm/10/63/1666](http://www.bep.treas.gov/document.cfm/10/63/1666) ---
**Author:** ![MHand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@MHand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHand)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/3 "2002-06-21T02:46:13Z")
Did they really just anounce it?! I was at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington D.C. on Memorial Day, and on the tour they told us the money was going to be more colorful. It was news to me, but I didn’t think I was getting the information before the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/4 "2002-06-21T04:01:23Z")
Well, if you want colorful notes have a look at the [Aussie Version](http://www.caughtatwork.net/ratings/notes.html) These are genuine, trust me. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/5 "2002-06-21T04:14:04Z")
First M&Ms, now the US Treasury. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/6 "2002-06-21T04:16:21Z")
Off to MPSIMS ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/7 "2002-06-21T04:43:49Z")
I disapprove of this new change. The purpose of money is to look good in my wallet, not be useful. Oh, and I hate people with disabilities too. But seriously, it’s about time. Now when are we going to get different-sized bills? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/8 "2002-06-21T04:53:41Z")
From the BEP website > [@](#): > > While color is not in itself a security feature, the use of color provides the opportunity to add additional features that could assist in deterring counterfeiting Translation: we don’t have a clue what we’re doing, but our job is to do “something.” So, perhaps that great looking money is coming our way. I’ll sleep better at night, knowing that they’re on the job.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/9 "2002-06-21T05:04:56Z")
I don’t get these changes. I truly don’t. The security precautions are as good as the cashier you hand the bills to. If he or she can’t tell the difference between a fake and the genuine article, it doesn’t matter how many subtle changes you make to it. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/10 "2002-06-21T05:39:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*I don’t get these changes. I truly don’t. The security precautions are as good as the cashier you hand the bills to. If he or she can’t tell the difference between a fake and the genuine article, it doesn’t matter how many subtle changes you make to it. \*\* Then again, if you make it harder to accurately conterfeit money, it should be easier for the checkout chick to spot a fake. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/11 "2002-06-21T05:47:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*I don’t get these changes. I truly don’t. The security precautions are as good as the cashier you hand the bills to. If he or she can’t tell the difference between a fake and the genuine article, it doesn’t matter how many subtle changes you make to it. \*\* I think the point is that even a subtle change can make it much more difficult to conterfeit a note. Check out our polymer Australian notes. The level of detail is simply incredible. Some of the more subtle details would make them very difficult to reproduce. Also, I think a cashier would be able to tell the difference between a note with a different background colour - subtle or not - and a counterfeit. A bank teller certainly could. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/12 "2002-06-21T05:49:45Z")
Gah, how did you sneak in there **Duckster**? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/13 "2002-06-21T06:07:16Z")
You have cashiers that will accept $3 bills out there. Granted, not everyone is that stupid, but do you think a watermark or an off centered picture is going to make the difference between acceptance and refusal? You change the color and that just means that counterfeiters will change their color too. Or use the old ones anyway. Why not? It’s not as if bills have an expiration date after which they’re no longer good. Bottom line: every security measure is only as good as the cashier you hand the bill to. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/14 "2002-06-21T06:14:46Z")
**Caught@Work** , you’re a bit of a dag, mate! 😃 I loved your page! ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/15 "2002-06-21T06:37:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*I disapprove of this new change. The purpose of money is to look good in my wallet, not be useful. Oh, and I hate people with disabilities too. > > But seriously, it’s about time. Now when are we going to get different-sized bills? \*\* Right on! It certainly is about time! A woman legislator proposed 50 years or so ago, different colored bills, green on one side and different colors for the denominations on the other. Her hide-bound male colleagues laughed her down. Have all the bills the same size and color makes as much sense as would having all the coins alike except for the number minted on them. It would complicate scheduling the print jobs at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but being able to solve such problems is why they make the big bucks. After all, the various mints manage to do an equivalent job with coins. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/16 "2002-06-21T10:13:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*You have cashiers that will accept $3 bills out there. Granted, not everyone is that stupid, but do you think a watermark or an off centered picture is going to make the difference between acceptance and refusal? > You change the color and that just means that counterfeiters will change their color too. Or use the old ones anyway. Why not? It’s not as if bills have an expiration date after which they’re no longer good. > Bottom line: every security measure is only as good as the cashier you hand the bill to. Period. \*\* Period schmeriod. The integrity of currency is NOT a chain, only strongest as its weakest link. Cashiers are part of the money exchange process, but they aren’t the be-all and end-all. Would YOU accept a $3 if it was given to you as change from said ‘stupid’ cashier? Of course not. You’d speak up. Same as a bank teller would when obviously counterfeit notes were presented for deposit. What happens when people start objecting to receiving counterfeit currency? The level of public awareness increases. The stupid cashier become less stupid. The idea of adding new colouring is (1) to make the fake currency obviously counterfeit so that people such your perceptive self and the trained bank teller will notice fake notes and reject them; and (2) to make it more difficult for counterfeiters to produce convincing fakes. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/17 "2002-06-21T10:43:40Z")
It’s about time. I swear we have the most boring money in the world. I imagine that the denominations are hard for people with poor eyesight to tell apart, also. I know drunk people have trouble with it. (When I was a dancer, I remember a really drunk guy who gave a girl a $100 instead of a $5 and didn’t even realize it) ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/18 "2002-06-21T10:49:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tsubaki \* > \*\ ***Caught@Work** , you’re a bit of a dag, mate! 😃 > I loved your page! \*\* Thanks buddy. I appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/19 "2002-06-21T12:37:28Z")
Finally! Now, considering that _we_ have been good enough to harmonize our coin size, may I suggest blue for the $5s, purple for the $10s, pink for the $50s, and brown for the $100s. The good news is that you get to keep green for the $20s, which I understand to be the most popular denomination. ---
**Author:** ![Dieter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dieter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dieter)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182/20 "2002-06-22T07:45:58Z")
Plaid! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-bill-to-get-new-coloring/115182.md?page=2)