# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/41 "2010-02-09T05:15:18Z")
More importantly, why is Gene Wilder on the ten dollar bill? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/42 "2010-02-09T06:25:12Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > 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. There may be a problem with this: Is defacing money (even with no intent of fraud) illegal in Canada? (As far as I can tell, it isn’t in the U.S., despite my being taught to the contrary. I was very alarmed when I’d seen those [penny-pressing machines](http://www.parkpennies.com/pressed-penny/penny-pressing-legal.htm). ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/43 "2010-02-09T15:57:38Z")
> [@Da\_ICON](#): > > Huh…never seen that in Toronto… But now that I’ve read this thread, you’re gonna! Heh. Heh. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/44 "2010-02-09T16:05:56Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > There may be a problem with this: Is defacing money (even with no intent of fraud) illegal in Canada? AFAIK - no. > **[Canadian Money Tracker :: Help :: Notes and Hits FAQ](http://www.cdn-money.ca/cdnmoney/servlet/cmtHelp?help=bill-faq#illegal)** > > I had a lawyer check things out; keep in mind that this is in no way written in stone, and I am in no way telling you it's okay and that you should write on your notes. Like everything in life, you do so at your own risk... I write on my notes but... And this is also the canadian site for tracking your bills online. > **[Canadian Money Tracker :: Main](http://www.cdn-money.ca/cdnmoney/servlet/cmtMain)** ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/45 "2010-02-09T16:18:37Z")
> [@The Hamster King](#): > > Weird. Everyone knows that Kirk & Scotty are the Canadians. > [@EvilTOJ](#): > > You mean they’re the Jews. No, Kirk & Spock are the Jews. Don’t you listen to Adam Sandler? ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 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/527871/46 "2010-02-09T16:42:20Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > No, Kirk & Spock are the Jews. Don’t you listen to Adam Sandler? I think you guys are getting confused with South Park. Kyle is Jewish, Ike is adopted from Canada, so that’s why his head is different. ---
**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 9, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/47 "2010-02-09T21:15:46Z")
Yeah, it’s true; we’re a beady-eyed, flappy-headed bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/48 "2010-02-10T18:14:46Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > From The Toque - > Seems obvious to me - the five-dollar Bill. > {Hey, I can hear your groans from here! 😃 } Oh come on, people. We need a $4 coin with Kirk on one side. It shall be called: the Quatloonie. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/49 "2010-02-10T18:25:21Z")
> [@Rodd\_Hill](#): > > Oh come on, people. > > We need a $4 coin with Kirk on one side. > > It shall be called: the Quatloonie. Hmm. Kirk on one side. The Queen on the other. There’s got to be some way to get a joke out of that. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/50 "2010-02-10T18:32:16Z")
I have never heard of this in my life! Of course now that I’m looking for it it’ll be one of those “things you can’t un-notice.” ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/51 "2010-02-10T18:37:15Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Hmm. Kirk on one side. The Queen on the other. There’s got to be some way to get a joke out of that. There is, but you have to reverse the polarity on the graviton beam with a photon array. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/52 "2010-02-10T20:46:55Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Hmm. Kirk on one side. The Queen on the other. There’s got to be some way to get a joke out of that. “He polished up the handles so careful-lee That now he is the ruler of the Queen’s Space Fleet” ?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/53 "2010-02-10T21:21:14Z")
> [@Rodd\_Hill](#): > > Oh come on, people. > > We need a $4 coin with Kirk on one side. > > It shall be called: the Quatloonie. Quadro-Triticale? ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/54 "2010-02-10T21:38:59Z")
I have never seen this in Toronto either. :: pulls out five, reaches for ballpoint pen :: ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/55 "2010-02-10T23:29:58Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Quadro-Triticale? That was inwented in wRussia! I wonder if any Russian currency ever had Chekov\* on it? \*either one ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/56 "2010-02-11T00:38:25Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > That was inwented in wRussia! > I wonder if any Russian currency ever had Chekov\* on it? > > \*either one Actually, last December 28 Russia issued [a four-coin set](http://newworldcoins.blogspot.com/2009/12/russia-2010-chekhov-commemorative-coins.html) (3, 50, 100, and 200 rubles) commemorating the 150th anniversary of Anton Chekhov’s birth. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/57 "2010-02-11T00:42:43Z")
> [@Delayed\_Reflex](#): > > Maybe [Hark, a Vagrant](http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=49) has helped perpetuate the trend. Coincidence indeed, I came across that strip just the other day hitting random and wondered what it was all about. I thought the joke was something to do with the fellow being bald and somehow ending up fully thatched on the bank note. Not as perplexing as the average xkcd strip though. ---
**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 11, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/58 "2010-02-11T05:27:26Z")
I have an idea - all us Canadian Doper should Spock our fives and put a little SDMB on it as a signature. ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/59 "2010-02-11T05:48:02Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > He’s been there since the Scenes of Canada series in 1969. yeah this bill looks pretty old. 1990 something: [http://img3.ifilmpro.com/resize/image/stills/films/resize/istd/2889299.jpg](http://img3.ifilmpro.com/resize/image/stills/films/resize/istd/2889299.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-of-my-5-bills-have-spock-on-them-instead-of-wilfrid-laurier/527871/60 "2010-02-11T07:05:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I have an idea - all us Canadian Doper should Spock our fives and put a little SDMB on it as a signature. 'k. Where do you wanna put the sekrit code? [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=2) [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=4)