# Canada to move to plastic banknotes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344 "2010-03-04T23:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/101 "2011-06-21T19:42:10Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Or a summer scene. Set in the sixth month. They could call them “joonies”. 🙂 Or, fishing scenes, fishing boats, or cod. They could call them “Newfies”. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/102 "2011-10-03T15:39:34Z")
Update: the PR machinery for the new banknotes is ramping up, it seems. I just got a message from my bank reminding me that they will be appearing in mid-November. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/103 "2011-10-03T17:00:15Z")
Why do they need PR? Just stop printing the old ones and start printing the new ones. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/104 "2011-10-03T17:07:49Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Why do they need PR? Just stop printing the old ones and start printing the new ones. So people won’t freak out and go “WTF is this in my wallet?” I guess? They’re different enough from the old ones that people had to be informed of all the new features. Plus, presumably, all sorts of things like note dispensers and acceptors had to be adjusted. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/105 "2011-10-05T04:37:10Z")
I’m so jealous! I want pretty-colored plastic monopoly money too ☹ And counterfeiting is way too easy here (comparatively). All American bills have going for them is the strip when you hold it up to light, and the red and blue fibers. They’re all the same lame color and made of the same dumb wrinkly paper D: ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/106 "2011-10-05T06:23:15Z")
Are they giving out any samples this time? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/107 "2011-10-23T18:30:16Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Are they giving out any samples this time? I wish. 🙂 However, I hope to get one when they come out. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/108 "2011-10-25T22:19:03Z")
Seems they ran the new designs past focus groups to weed out all the ‘devil’s faces’ and skulls and subliminal sex images and birthmarks and whatnot. [Link.](http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1075384--focus-groups-spot-weird-hidden-images-in-new-plastic-money?bn=1) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/109 "2011-10-25T22:38:26Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Seems they ran the new designs past focus groups to weed out all the ‘devil’s faces’ and skulls and subliminal sex images and birthmarks and whatnot. [Link.](http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1075384--focus-groups-spot-weird-hidden-images-in-new-plastic-money?bn=1) 🙂 Those focus groups have some crazy ass imaginations. My particular favorites - the vaguely wavy lines on either side of the transparent panel turn it into a woman’s body, Inuit word is some secret code and the DNA strand is a sex toy. Shesh people. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/110 "2011-10-25T22:48:23Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Those focus groups have some crazy ass imaginations… Obligatory [Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/556/are-subliminal-messages-secretly-embedded-in-advertisements) link. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/111 "2011-11-03T01:21:56Z")
November 14th is the day. There will be a release ceremony at the MaRS Centre in the Hospital District in Toronto to celebrate the release of the new banknote. Members of the Press will tour the medical research facilities and have an opportunity to purchase examples of the new banknote. [Link.](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2011/11/media-advisories/bank-of-canada-begin-circulating-new-100-polymer-bank-note/) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/112 "2011-11-03T02:11:28Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > November 14th is the day. Drum roll… The new notes will be exciting for about a week, then everything will go on as usual. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/113 "2011-11-03T02:51:25Z")
The new banknotes reflect the difference between the USA and Canadian economies. We’re going plastic, whereas the USA is staying with paper so that they will have something to burn so as to keep themselves warm. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/114 "2011-11-14T19:25:18Z")
[They are released!](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2011/11/press-releases/bank-canada-issues-100-bill-first-canadian-polymer-bank-note/) Now all I need is some money so I can go and get one… ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/115 "2011-11-14T21:56:57Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Those focus groups have some crazy ass imaginations. My particular favorites - the vaguely wavy lines on either side of the transparent panel turn it into a woman’s body, Inuit word is some secret code and the DNA strand is a sex toy. > > Shesh people. Appropriate [CBC link](http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/22_Minutes/Clips/1287245959/ID=2165734899). **Le Ministre** posted it in the [Canadian current events and politics thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=608682&page=15). (Thanks!) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/116 "2011-11-14T22:51:57Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > [They are released!](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2011/11/press-releases/bank-canada-issues-100-bill-first-canadian-polymer-bank-note/) Now all I need is some money so I can go and get one… So have you managed to get hold of any of the new notes yet? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/117 "2011-11-15T00:17:33Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > So have you managed to get hold of any of the new notes yet? Waiting for payday! (End of the month…) ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/118 "2011-11-15T01:21:05Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I’m so jealous! I want pretty-colored plastic monopoly money too ☹ And counterfeiting is way too easy here (comparatively). All American bills have going for them is the strip when you hold it up to light, and the red and blue fibers. They’re all the same lame color and made of the same dumb wrinkly paper D: They’re not [all the same color](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USDnotes.png). $5s are pink in the middle, $10s are peach at the ends, $20s are teal/blueish at the ends, and $50s are pinkish on one end and purplish on the other. The $100 is a cream color all over – only the $1 and $2 are uniformly green. And I never use the red/blue fibers to confirm authenticity. The watermark and the color-changing ink (lower right corner of the face on the $10, $20, $50, and $100) are much better. They can’t be counterfeited convincingly. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/119 "2011-11-15T03:08:31Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I’m so jealous! I want pretty-colored plastic monopoly money too… Ahem. It is “pretty-colored plastic _real_ money.” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344/120 "2011-11-15T03:17:29Z")
The measure of success for the new plastic 100 dollar bills won’t be that high, seeing as a lot of places will not accept 50 or 100 dollar bills already. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-to-move-to-plastic-banknotes/531344.md?page=7)