# Why do so many of my $5 bills have Spock on them instead of Wilfrid Laurier? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871 "2010-02-06T01:19:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/21 "2010-02-06T06:20:30Z")
My God, you’re right! ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/22 "2010-02-06T07:22:24Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Weird. Everyone knows that Kirk & Scotty are the Canadians. You mean they’re the Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Delayed\_Reflex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/delayed_reflex/32/3172_2.png) [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/23 "2010-02-06T07:55:36Z")
Maybe [Hark, a Vagrant](http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=49) has helped perpetuate the trend. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/24 "2010-02-06T09:27:25Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > God, how US-centric I am - I was wondering what the hell was wrong with your five dollar bills that they didn’t have Lincoln on them. Sorry! When I first read the title, that’s what I assumed, too…then I read the full OP, which includes the phrase “canadian bills”, and I was somewhat less confused. I’m still a bit confused about why so many $5 are being defaced in a particular way, no matter what country they’re in. When I was a kid, I had a rubber stamp of a unicorn, and I used to enjoy stamping this unicorn on every bill I had in my possession. I kept hoping that one day, I’d get a bill back. Never happened. These days, as a rather belligerent atheist, I take a marker and run it over the “In God We Trust” that’s on most US bills (older bills don’t have that slogan on them, but older bills are generally not in circulation). Since I’ve joined the 21st century, though, and have switched almost entirely to using a debit card, I don’t handle nearly as much cash as I used to. I still use SOME cash…but instead of making a weekly cash withdrawal, I might get the same amount ($300) once every three or four months. I’m still spending about the same amount, just not spending it in cash. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/25 "2010-02-06T11:07:15Z")
It seems to be popular enough that there’s a facebook group for it (Spock Your Fives). From the group’s page: > [@](#): > > This group is to celebrate the Canadian cultural phenomenon, known to some as the “Spock five”. The origins of this mysterious tradition are shrouded in secrecy, although it is widely believed to be totally awesome. Here’s a short article about it: Spock Five - The new Canadian Currency? > **[Spock Five - The new Canadian Currency?](https://ibackpackcanada.com/spock-five-the-new-canadian-currency/)** > > Explore the potential of Spock Five as the new Canadian currency in this informative blog post. Learn about the features and benefits of this emerging digital currency. According to them it’s been going on for the last decade or so. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/26 "2010-02-06T16:35:01Z")
What a Laugh - I haven’t seen that in years. Used to be a mildly funny gag to show someone in a bored moment in the back of class. I have to admit I am responsible for defacing more than a few when I was younger. I seem to recall (nostalgia perhaps?) that the portrait of Wilfred on some older bills, say early 80’s, was much more spock-friendly. There used to be some folding trick to show the queen’s “ass”, I think on the old dollar bills. Its a very rare occasion that I would actually have a five in my hand now though, Ive used Interac or visa for everything for a good twenty years. I handle more american money than Canadian just visiting the states a couple times a year. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/27 "2010-02-06T16:42:21Z")
Oh missed that last post. Its been going on for a lot longer than the last decade. I am not sure when I first saw this, but I thinl I was still in primary school. That would make it the seventies. A quick google search doesnt tell me when Wilfred first graced the five. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/28 "2010-02-06T16:57:13Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > Oh missed that last post. Its been going on for a lot longer than the last decade. > > I am not sure when I first saw this, but I thinl I was still in primary school. That would make it the seventies. A quick google search doesnt tell me when Wilfred first graced the five. He’s been there since the Scenes of Canada series in 1969. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/29 "2010-02-06T17:25:39Z")
Stoopid kanucks. That is obviously Sarek. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/30 "2010-02-06T17:49:14Z")
Someone needs to set up a “[wheresspock.com](http://wheresspock.com)” website so you can track all those five dollar bills! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/31 "2010-02-06T18:01:25Z")
OK, I am imagining a rubber stamp that will convert the face on the Canadian fin to something resembling Spock, possibly with positioning markers on the stamp (align this corner with a certain landmark on the bill, and that corner on another landmark). I imagine selling these stamps to Canadian geeks. I imagine setting up a website where people can track their bills. I imagine a small fortune in Canadian five dollar bills in my hot little hands. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/32 "2010-02-06T18:56:00Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > It seems to be popular enough that there’s a facebook group for it (Spock Your Fives). > > From the group’s page: > > Here’s a short article about it: > > Spock Five - The new Canadian Currency? > [http://ibackpackcanada.com/en/blog/spock-five-the-new-canadian-currency/](http://ibackpackcanada.com/spock-five-the-new-canadian-currency/) > > According to them it’s been going on for the last decade or so. I believe they’re right - it is totally awesome. ---
**Author:** ![malibu400](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@malibu400](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malibu400)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/33 "2010-02-06T19:32:08Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > Its a very rare occasion that I would actually have a five in my hand now though, Ive used Interac or visa for everything for a good twenty years. I handle more american money than Canadian just visiting the states a couple times a year. I probably use more cash than the average person. I just started working part time at a restaurant last year and a lot of tips i recieve are cash. This probably explains why i’ve gotten so many “Spock Fives” as well.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/34 "2010-02-06T21:06:38Z")
I probably see them about once a year or so, but I’m also someone who primarily uses Interac, so I don’t handle a lot of cash. I’ve gotten a few in change from the cafeteria at McGill, which makes me think that universities might be the origin of several of the Spock Fives. We need to do _something_ to get through certain classes! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/35 "2010-02-06T21:18:28Z")
Euros are so lame. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/36 "2010-02-06T22:22:28Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Euros are so lame. ☹ [No more so than the average kanaaroo](http://www.rootourism.com/fsheet28.htm). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/37 "2010-02-06T22:59:36Z")
See, we give off hints of what kind of people we are here (our dollar coin is called the Loonie, for heaven’s sake) - it’s not a big secret. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/38 "2010-02-06T23:20:53Z")
Well, after all Spock was from [Vulcan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan,_Alberta). ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/39 "2010-02-07T05:37:15Z")
The Spock $5 has spawned [this gag](http://www.thetoque.com/040120/shatnercoin.htm) from The Toque: > [@](#): > > William Shatner Star Trek Five Dollar Coin: > William Shatner To Be Minted Like No Man Has Been Minted Before ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/40 "2010-02-07T06:09:52Z")
From The Toque - > [@](#): > > Enthusiasts are searching for a nickname for the new coin. > > “We’ve got the ‘loonie’ ($1 coin), and we’ve got the ‘toonie’ ($2 coin),” said Noonian Singh, coin collector and Shatner fan. “So what will we call this enterprise? The Shatty? Kirk’s Koin? You’d think that the ‘Trekkie’ would be the logical choice, but there’s just no telling what humans in the early 21st Century will ultimately decide.” Seems obvious to me - the five-dollar Bill. {Hey, I can hear your groans from here! 😃 } [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871.md?page=3)