Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:31 pm
Last Updated on May 2, 2024 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
Paper or Plastic? The Latter, Please
Canada began printing plastic-like polymer banknotes in 2011 to update Canadian paper money. The change was needed due to the modern nature of banking, and its numerous benefits to the government and consumers. At Colonial Acres Coins, we carry a wide variety of banknotes available for purchase. Check out our website to start your own collection of paper money today. Read more here about the transition to polymer and why this was a positive move.
Why Change Canada Paper Money To Plastic?
Prior to 2011, Canada’s banknotes were made of cotton and paper. This blend was somewhat durable, but scientific experiments showed that polymer currency could last between two and five years longer than paper. Private banks and credit unions had long been using plastic cards for debit and credit cards, but the government had yet to follow suit.
Benefits of the Change
Studies also indicated that polymer money performed quite a bit better in vending machines and ATMs. Canada paper money was printed with natural inks that would rub off on the optical lens of scanners which determine what denomination of bill was being used. This would not only cause machine jams and the need for complex cleaning, but also the classic frustration of vending machine users who insert their dollar bill only to have it reversed back out at them from the machine.
Polymer money also stays cleaner. Paper money tends to absorb skin oils, residue, germs, perspiration, and liquids. Polymer is a virtually waterproof material, so disease transmission and moisture transfer are greatly reduced.
New Designs to Honour Canadian History
The switch to polymer also wowed consumers with new patriotic designs and homages to Canadian historical figures. The first plastic piece introduced in 2011 was the $100 bill, which featured the image of the 8th Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden. When the $20 bill was launched in 2012, the visage of Queen Elizabeth II was prominently displayed.
If old figureheads are not your cup of tea, other points of Canadian pride are found in the plastic currency. Canadian astronauts, the research vessel CCGS Amundsen, and the Inuktitut Indigenous phrasing of the word ‘Arctic’ are all variously disseminated on the plastic currency. The polymer money also represents national values and accomplishments throughout Canada’s rich history, such as researchers with microscopes, vials of insulin, and a printout from an electrocardiogram (ECG) to honour the invention of the pacemaker.
Why People Collect Banknotes From All Over the World
We at Colonial Acres know that banknotes are collector’s items for many people throughout the globe. Some keep them for their own private, sentimental reasons, while others collect them for investment purposes. Still others want an elegant conversation piece to share with their friends and relatives. People who travel abroad often like to keep various international currencies as a memento of their time overseas.
Whatever the reason, we offer rare and beautiful Canadian coins and paper money. Go to our website to find unique deals on paper items that are harder to come by since the changeover to plastic. The older the bill, the less likely it is to be in circulation, and the more valuable it is to you, the collector.
