# New $10 bill coming. Why do store clerks agonize over them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903 "2005-09-28T19:54:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![billfritter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@billfritter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfritter)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/1 "2005-09-28T19:54:50Z")
[New $10 Bill Gets a Colorful Makeover](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050928/ap_on_bi_ge/new_ten) Every time a new version of a bill is introduced, the papers are full of information how it’s harder to counterfeit. They tell you about the color changing dyes and the microprint and the wording on the stripe and the watermark. So why do clerks feel obligated to inspect every new bill? Don’t they get it that counterfieters will continue making the older bills for as long as they are in circulation? The older bills are demonstably easier to produce, and since they call no attention to themselves they are a billion times easier to pass. So they fuss over my new bills, and squint and twist and hold to the light, all the while giving me the fish eye and delaying the line. Cut it out! ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/2 "2005-09-28T20:14:48Z")
Until they’ve been in circulation for a while, the clerk is probably just not all that familiar with them. The whole time they’re fussing and squinting and twisting, they’re probably going over a mental checklist of what the bill’s security features are. If not, any hack with a color copier can pawn off a few lazy knockoffs in the interim that are missing any number of security features. As long as they’re new, the merchant is wise to scrutinize the new currency. Whenever all the bills go to a consistent style, not two or three versions of each in circulation at the same time, you probably won’t get it so much and the line at the fish store will move along much faster. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/3 "2005-09-28T20:46:39Z")
I actually kind of like the new ten, at least from its picture. The only thing that’s weird is that they have the treasury shield, the word “TEN,” and the word “the” in “We the people” all on top of each other. But maybe that’s the anti-counterfeiting genius at work. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/4 "2005-09-28T21:47:38Z")
Er, call that colourful? Isn’t it just green and black? Don’t you have any other colour ink in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/5 "2005-09-28T22:12:14Z")
> [@seosamh](#): > > Er, call that colourful? Isn’t it just green and black? Don’t you have any other colour ink in the US? It’s a miracle we’ve gotten this far with redesigning money. Just mention getting rid of the penny and watch some people go totally mental. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/6 "2005-09-28T22:32:50Z")
> [@seosamh](#): > > Er, call that colourful? Isn’t it just green and black? Don’t you have any other colour ink in the US? Your browser must suck. I see red, gold, light blue and magenta and the background is what I’d call buff color. ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/7 "2005-09-28T22:43:57Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Your browser must suck. I see red, gold, light blue and magenta and the background is what I’d call buff color. OK - so there are a few tiny bits of other colour in the note. But even the most fervent Yankee-doodle must admit that your paper currency is a bit on the lacklustre side. Compared with, say, an old [Irish tenner](http://www.banknotes.com/IE76.JPG) or a [hundred](http://www.banknotes.com/IE79.JPG). ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/8 "2005-09-28T22:48:29Z")
On top of the bajillion of other things the clerk has to pay attention to, here’s a new version of the ten dollar bill. He or she has to make sure it’s the real thing. Yet another reason why I am so glad I never have had to spend time in retail hell and why I respect those who deal with all this, plus store policy, plus pissy customers, and all the other stuff he or she is dealing with at any one time. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/9 "2005-09-28T22:59:26Z")
When I managed a large sports complex, we took in a lot of cash. We were aslo prone to hire younger kids because they related to our young costomers. When the new colored funny looking bills came out a few years ago, I took them out to our cashiers to show them what they might expect. “Oh Jack, we knew about this AGES ago.” “Get real, I need a raise.” etc. The other three just turned away but not before I saw a few eyeballs raising up. Point is, let the clerks know about the new bills, have them check maybe every tenth bill for a while but they probably know this anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/10 "2005-09-28T23:08:15Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Your browser must suck. I see red, gold, light blue and magenta and the background is what I’d call buff color. Still not very colourful, as money goes. The [Canadian tenner](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/general/character/2001-04_10b.html) is one of our _drab_ bills. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/11 "2005-09-28T23:15:45Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Still not very colourful, as money goes. The [Canadian tenner](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/general/character/2001-04_10b.html) is one of our _drab_ bills. 😃 Colorful, yeah. But it’s worth what…maybe $1.23 Merkin? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/12 "2005-09-28T23:18:39Z")
I’m from Canada. Yes, our money is colourful. But this money we’re talking about is American. And yes, it is colourful to them. Why would this turn into a “my money is more colourful than your money!” debate? 😕 (tongue firmly in cheek, kids 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/13 "2005-09-28T23:18:50Z")
Hey, we’re Americans. We like our coffee to be weak, our Presidents to be stupid and our currency to be drab. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/14 "2005-09-28T23:20:34Z")
Ah, crap. My above post was suppose to contain a joke about dick measuring and hating America and other fun things, and possibly the most brilliant wit I’ve ever shown on a message board or elsewhere. But I seemed to have left the joke out, and now it would be just silly to try. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![billfritter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@billfritter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfritter)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/15 "2005-09-28T23:29:53Z")
[Here’s the treasury’s picture of the bill](http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/files/10_materials/Glossy-face-web-10.pdf) from [http://www.moneyfactory.gov/](http://www.moneyfactory.gov/) Two more predictable and useless confusions to come: 1. All money changing machines from the subway to the laundromat will not take the new bills in time, although the Feds have gone to great lengths to make sure all the manufacturers have all the right new templates ahead of time. Excuses will vary, but someone in local government will be on the news saying this was “just sprung on them” come January. 2. Patrons will be shocked and outraged that they can’t use the new money to buy tickets from machines. Despite this problem happening every time for decades now. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/16 "2005-09-28T23:30:16Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > But this money we’re talking about is American. And yes, it is colourful to them. Awww, c’mon, we’re RIGHT HERE, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/17 "2005-09-28T23:32:20Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Awww, c’mon, we’re RIGHT HERE, you know. Oh, dear, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. You kind of blended in with the background. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/18 "2005-09-29T00:02:31Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Oh, dear, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. You kind of blended in with the background. 😃 That’s okay, it comes in handy. The next time you turn around and don’t see someone, it’s me. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/19 "2005-09-29T00:17:32Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Why would this turn into a “my money is more colourful than your money!” debate? 😕 Dude, we’re Dopers. We love to engage in intelligent, reasonable debates. But failing that, we’re quite willing to engage in silly, pointless debates 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Atheist\_Princess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@Atheist\_Princess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atheist_Princess)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903/20 "2005-09-29T00:23:56Z")
Jumping in on the “Our notes are more colourful” band wagon, this is the [Aussie tenner](http://members.ozemail.com.au/~enigman/australia/ten_dol.html) I can’t say that I’ve ever been standing around for a cashier to check that my notes were legit… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-10-bill-coming-why-do-store-clerks-agonize-over-them/323903.md?page=2)