# Multi-colored $$$ **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732 "2000-03-28T17:12:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/1 "2000-03-28T17:12:00Z")
When the U.S. treasury modified our monetary bills recently to make them less simple to counterfeit, why did they keep all bills the same color? The bills look more alike now than they did before. I have almost given a $50 or $100 when I thought I was giving a $20 a few times already. Using, say, blue for hundreds, red for twenties, green for tens, etc., would make the bills much easier to differentiate. Other countries have done it for a long time. Yeah, all-green money is a tradition here. But are people really all that attached to it? I think those who don’t like the idea would get over it quickly and actually like multi-colored bills. [aside]This, I feel, is why our half-assed attempts to convert to the metric system in the 1970s failed. The government should have simply imposed it, gotten rid of all reference to non-metric weights and measures and strongly encouraged the private sector to do the same. People then would have eventually caught on and gotten used to it.[/aside] * * * “We are here for this – to make mistakes and to correct ourselves, to withstand the blows and to hand them out.” Primo Levi ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/2 "2000-03-28T17:14:00Z")
This is actually a Great Debate, I guess. I personally think multi-colored bills would be better. But there’s always the old fogies (you know who you are) who will say “that’s monopoly money.” ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/3 "2000-03-28T17:16:00Z")
Or even less valuable: Canadian $$$ ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/4 "2000-03-28T17:39:00Z")
Hell, I’m still waiting to see if those new ‘golden dollars’ fly. Personally, I hate having change jingling around in my pocket, and while I agree if we HAVE to have a coin dollar, the gold color will eliminate that Susan B. Anthony quarter/dollar mix up, I think just like the multi-colored money, people will resist it for no other reason than the fact it’s ‘different’ ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/5 "2000-03-28T17:55:00Z")
I think the loonie and the twoonie (stop laughing at us, eh!) serve their purpose pretty well as (relatively) high value and (relatively) new coins. ---
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/6 "2000-03-29T06:08:00Z")
There is a number of organizational systems which could be more efficiently set out, with colored bills and ‘gold’ coins being only one. For example, inserting letters into the numeric zip codes would have expanded the number of postal zones without adding all the length of the hyphenated zip code (those four extra numbers); adopting a metric system of measurement for product distribution (and thereby streamlining product labelling systems by joining the rest of the manufacturing world) to name a few. I can’t seriously imagine the reasons such changes have not been undertaken. I truly doubt that “consumer resistance” is the real reason. (If consumer resistance were given any weight in government organizational decisions, the daily lives and routines of most Americans would be quite different than they are. Heck, gas prices would be mere pennies…) ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/7 "2000-03-29T06:47:00Z")
I think the freemasons are behind this whole thing. Goddamn you, freemasons! I hate you so much! ---
**Author:** ![SingleDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@SingleDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleDad)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/8 "2000-03-29T05:33:00Z")
Well, I just hope they don’t phase out the $1 bill. What would I bring to the strip joint? 😉 * * * Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious. ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/9 "2000-03-29T05:45:00Z")
Dollar coins, Dad. There’s this girl here… you should see what she does with a ten $ roll of quarters… * * * “Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.” ---
**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:** [March 29, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/10 "2000-03-29T13:31:00Z")
Who cares if it’s worth 65% of American money? At least our money is _pretty._ Thbtbthbpt. Anyway, euros are also cool, and French money is even cooler (but I wish it were the same size.) ---
**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/11 "2000-03-29T14:32:00Z")
## Australian money is very cool too. It is all different colors, and it has little plastic ‘windows’ in it. I cant imagine how someone could counterfeit it. Rose I told you not to be stupid, you moron. ---
**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/12 "2000-03-30T06:56:00Z")
Milossarian said: > [@](#): > > Yeah, all-green money is a tradition here. But are people really all that attached to it? I think those who don’t like the idea would get over it quickly and actually like multi-colored bills. And Portwest said: > [@](#): > > I can’t seriously imagine the reasons such changes have not been undertaken. I truly doubt that “consumer resistance” is the real reason. (If consumer resistance were given any weight in government organizational decisions, the daily lives and routines of most Americans would be quite different than they are. Heck, gas prices would be mere pennies…) I think consumer resistance is a big reason. We here in the US sometimes don’t realize it, but we’re very conservative compared to the rest of the planet. I have personally watched a grown man refuse new-style US$20 bills at the bank - he said (loudly!) that he didn’t like them, and that he didn’t think anyone else did, either. As if the poor teller had personally decided to change the bill’s design. She had to cull old-style bills from her drawer to shut the guy up. Too many US adults look at Canadian or Australian or British bills and exclaim “it looks like Monopoly money!” US currency is boring and serious, darn it, and if it doesn’t look boring and serious, then as far as the public is concerned, it doesn’t count. It’s lamentable, but I think it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/13 "2000-03-29T19:11:00Z")
Actually I hear that up here a stripper will be known to stick a rolled up poster between her undulating buttocks, and the person who knocks it out with a coin gets to keep it… although I imagine they see pennies once in a while! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/14 "2000-03-30T15:36:00Z")
Nice looking money? What a positively UN-American idea… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/15 "2000-03-30T16:54:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I think consumer resistance is a big reason…I have personally watched a grown man refuse new-style US$20 bills at the bank - he said (loudly!) that he didn’t like them, and that he didn’t think anyone else did, either. As if the poor teller had personally decided to change the bill’s design. She had to cull old-style bills from her drawer to shut the guy up. My point exactly. If such resistance were given any serious weight in government organizational decisions, then those newly designed bills would be pulled out of circulation due to consumer outrage such as you mention. That ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/16 "2000-03-30T17:31:00Z")
It would cost the U.S. mint _a ton_ of dough to inventory and use different colored ink(s) for each bill denomination. Isn’t that really the simplest answer to the question? ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/17 "2000-03-30T17:51:00Z")
Around the time they put out the new $100 I heard a treasury representative explaining why our money is so boring. Don’t agree with it, but sure is interesting. American money isn’t just American, it’s international. It’s the currency of choice for everything from Gun deals, to drug deals, to simple commerece in many countries. Those countries don’t often have good communication, and if they made drastic changes to the dollar, when peole saw it they might freak out. Think it was counterfiet, whatever. IT would cause widespread panic and rioting. Seems plausible. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/18 "2000-03-31T06:15:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Nickrz: > It would cost the U.S. mint _a ton_ of dough to inventory and use different colored ink(s) for each bill denomination. > > Isn’t that really the simplest answer to the question? No, because the additional money being spent on ink would be saved by the lesser amount of counterfeit money being made. Of course, I’m sure neither of us have any “hard numbers” to quote here. ---
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/19 "2000-03-31T06:22:00Z")
Oldscratch, what you say makes some sense. The world view of the U.S. dollar is quite different than the view from home. Any changes would have to be c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y weighed for their bottom-line value, and while a percentage of $$$ may be saved by making the currency less liable to counterfeiting, that sum may be minor when compared to the negative effects of a global currency change. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732/20 "2000-03-31T06:30:00Z")
From one of the various [FAQs](http://www.bep.treas.gov/allfacts.htm) at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving: > [@](#): > > The reason for the selection of green as the color for the backs of currency notes has long been among the more popular questions put to the Bureau. No definite explanation can be made for the original choice; however, **it is known that at the time of the introduction of small-sized notes in 1929, the use of green was continued because pigment of that color was readily available in large quantities** , the color was relatively high in its resistance to chemical and physical changes, and **green was psychologically identified with the strong and stable credit of the Government.** In the course of preparing this history, much attention was given to the matter. Extensive research developed evidence in support of the following explanation: > > With the growing popularity of banknotes and the development of photography in the mid-1800’s, it was customary to print the bills in black combined with colored tints as a deterrent to counterfeiting. The early camera saw everything in black. Features that were distinguishable on a note by color variant lost their individuality when reproduced photographically. However, the counterfeiter soon discovered that the colored inks then in use could easily be removed from a note without disturbing the black ink. He could eradicate the colored portion, photograph the remainder, and then make a desired number of copies to be overprinted with an imitation of the colored parts. The solution to the problem lay in the development of an ink that could not be erased without adversely affecting the black coloring. Such an ink was developed and the patent rights were purchased by Tracy R. Edson, who later was one of the founders of the American Bank Note Company. This is one of the same firms that produced the first paper money issued by the United States. The faces of these and other early notes produced under contract were printed with a green tint, presumably of the protective ink. > > It is not unusual in printing with oil-base-type inks, such as was the “patent green,” for the color to strike through to the opposite side of a sheet. It might, therefore, be conjectured that the backs of the early notes were printed in a darker shade of ordinary green to make the tint “strike through” less obvious > > Since the transition of printing money exclusively at the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing was gradual, it is logical to assume that the backs of the notes produced there during the intervening period were printed in green for the sake of uniformity. **Once the Bureau was on full-scale production, there was no reason to change the traditional color and so the practice was continued.** ## There you have it. Green was available. Green looked important. And inertia. [NYC IRL III](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/006163.html) is on April 15th. Do you have what it takes? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-colored/9732.md?page=2)