# Why does Canada care about its paper currency being unrippable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2024, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523 "2024-03-06T06:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/21 "2024-03-07T16:28:19Z")
Fair. But they are also pretty close to impossible to fold in half permanently. So if I have a stack of $20’s, I can fold them in my pocket. But when they come back out of the pocket to place on a hotel desk, for example, they spring back to the original shape and sometimes create a “52 Pickup” situation. I only go to Canada a few times a year, so this typically happens when I haven’t traveled there for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/22 "2024-03-07T16:30:28Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > So if I have a stack of $20’s, I can fold them in my pocket. But when they come back out of the pocket to place on a hotel desk, for example, they spring back to the original shape and sometimes create a “52 Pickup” situation. Yeah, I guess Big Wallet got to us! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/23 "2024-03-07T16:59:25Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > > [@Balthisar](#): > > > > Ah, yes, ignore the constituency. > > AKA, The Customer is NOT Always Right. > > We turned the corner on our coinage and low value bills being useful to buy things so long ago that when we look back we can’t see that there was ever a corner there, that there used to be another way to go. Now they exist primarily to balance out transactions when you use higher value bills to buy something. I’m from the government, I’m here to help. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/24 "2024-03-07T17:03:48Z")
Seems common sense, lasts longer, saves money. If you’re spending more than necessary out of nostalgia, that seems silly. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/25 "2024-03-07T17:08:04Z")
Wasn’t there an entire Seinfeld episode about not being able to get a chocolate bar out of a vending machine because it would take crumpled banknotes? Doesn’t happen with toonies and loonies. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/26 "2024-03-07T17:20:47Z")
Crane does do design and printing for various national governmental customers as well as brand protection and authentication solutions. My understanding is that Crane’s currency security features are mostly or entirely threads, as opposed to an ink based solution. Probably some microprinting as well. The only polymer specific security feature I know of is one that the Australian national bank developed and implemented themselves and it’s embedded in the substrate. Remember, too, that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing does all their own design, test printing, and actual printing. And they have to work with the Fed, the Secret Service, and the CTO to make everyone happy, plus the various private entities they contract with. The US is supposed to finally start releasing the new design series in late 2026, which changes everything but the $1 (design dictated by Congress) and the $2 (don’t print enough to be worth the cost). ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/27 "2024-03-07T17:52:49Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I simply can’t tear them no matter how hard I try. So I would imagine this is a popular late night challenge in Canadian bars. “Tear this bill in half and you can have it” or something like that. Have any of our Canadian friends experienced this? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/28 "2024-03-07T19:08:11Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > A question for our Canadian friends on the tactile difference between paper and plastic currency: Old well-used paper bills, besides tending to rip easily, become flaccid rather than crisp, and can even become greasy-feeling. How does the Canadian currency hold up in comparison? As others have confirmed, they stay looking like new for quite a long time. Which brings to mind the fact that when the polymer bills were first issued, there were complaints that the perfect flatness and texture of the bills made it too easy when counting them out to get two bills stuck together. I never heard much more about this and never had that problem myself, but I’ve rarely handled cash in recent years. I can definitely assure everyone that the ATM has never dispensed any extra banknotes to me! 😉 > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > > [@Balthisar](#): > > > > Ah, yes, ignore the constituency. > > AKA, The Customer is NOT Always Right. Quite so. Bit of a sidetrack, but it’s generally beneficial for a government to do the right thing even if it might be initially unpopular. That’s why “super-democratic” type governments that like to make major decisions through a constant series of referendums generally end up with policies that are short-sighted, or persistently focused only on lower taxes, or otherwise in the category generally classified as “stupid”. The most effective government generally comes from electing reasonable politicians who are smart enough to listen to expert advisers, and who therefore tend to do the right things because the combination of reasonable politician + smart advisers constitutes a hell of a lot more knowledge than possessed by the average voter. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/29 "2024-03-07T19:11:26Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Doesn’t happen with toonies and loonies. Yes, this. Back before vending machines accepted credit cards, I used to say, “Anyone who opposes dollar coins has never had to buy lunch out of a vending machine”. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/30 "2024-03-07T19:13:39Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Which brings to mind the fact that when the polymer bills were first issued, there were complaints that the perfect flatness and texture of the bills made it too easy when counting them out to get two bills stuck together. I never had that problem, but I once did lose a $50 bill in my own pocket. It was so smooth, I literally couldn’t feel it when I went to pay for a beer. Took me several tries to figure out where my money had gone 😃 ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/31 "2024-03-07T19:27:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I think when it comes to US government decisions, the human citizens are _not_ their customers. In the case of the decision to retain the penny and nickel coins, they’re listening to the zinc lobby more. The industry lobbies are _involved_ sure, but they wouldn’t have enough power to hold back change without the “any change, no matter how rational, that makes the world different than how it was when I grew up is a conspiracy against me” lobby. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/32 "2024-03-07T20:37:53Z")
The plastic bills have a tendency to creep out of your pocket. Anyone still Spocking their fives? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/33 "2024-03-07T20:44:45Z")
Plastic lasts longer, and you don’t have the rare heartbreak of pulling half a paper bill out of your wallet and trying to locate its partner. They survive the wash and are likely more secure. The comment about trying hard to tear the bills reminds me of a comedy bit by Ronnie Cheung. Discussing peoples’ reactions to the new IPhone, how some complained it was a shoddy product because it might break if you bent it hard using tools. ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/34 "2024-03-07T21:45:59Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The only polymer specific security feature I know of is one that the Australian national bank developed and implemented themselves and it’s embedded in the substrate. I’m not sure what you mean by a polymer specific security feature, but all of our newest Canadian bank notes have embedded diffraction gratings in the stylized maple leaf logo. If you shine a laser pointer through the frosted circle in the center of the maple leak, it projects the denomination of the bank note. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/35 "2024-03-07T22:17:40Z")
I suspect you could do that with a window in paper, though it would be expensive. Of course, all security features meant for use by the general public are expensive. I was actually thinking of features meant for use purely be central banks. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/36 "2024-03-07T22:35:34Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The most effective government generally comes from electing reasonable politicians who are smart enough to listen to expert advisers, and who therefore tend to do the right things because the combination of reasonable politician + smart advisers constitutes a hell of a lot more knowledge than possessed by the average voter. Remind us what planet you’re from? ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/37 "2024-03-07T22:40:12Z")
The downside of the $2 coins is they’re much harder to tuck into a strippers garter. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/38 "2024-03-07T23:10:11Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > The most effective government generally comes from electing reasonable politicians who are smart enough to listen to expert advisers, and who therefore tend to do the right things because the combination of reasonable politician + smart advisers constitutes a hell of a lot more knowledge than possessed by the average voter. > > Remind us what planet you’re from? I am, surprisingly, from planet Earth, but from one of those strange areas where – just as a random example – a team of, say, experts on environmental economics advising the government on environmental policy is considered to be a more more valuable source of guidance than the general mass of voters who are totally clueless about either environment or economics. The latter of which is, IMHO, ideally not where you want to get the nation’s guidance. Of course this all falls apart when the head of the elected government is some sort of self-serving psychopathic demagogue. So what we want – on planet Earth or anywhere else – is to recognize that a functional democracy requires an informed constituency of voters. OK, I guess that was a way digression from the OP. But it does explain why Canada has modern currency and abolished small-denomination banknotes, and adopted the worldwide metric system without issue while the USA opted out, though to be fair, among the last remaining such nations on planet earth, Liberia felt the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/39 "2024-03-07T23:42:46Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > ISTR that Australia had them first I have one of these in my modest banknote collection. > **[10 Dollars, Australia](https://en.numista.com/catalogue/note204026.html)** > > Detailed information about the coin 10 Dollars (Bicentenary of European Settlement), Australia, with pictures and collection and swap management: mintage, descriptions, metal, weight, size, value and other numismatic data ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2024, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523/40 "2024-03-08T00:14:49Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I suspect you could do that with a window in paper, though it would be expensive. I don’t know how expensive it is, but I’ve seen many patents for doing exactly this, embedding optical security features in “documents of value”, including things like banknotes and stock certificates. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-canada-care-about-its-paper-currency-being-unrippable/998523.md?page=3)