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Uncut Currency

usmint.gov

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Re: Uncut Currency

#81

Post by eru »

buryat wrote: post #13
Aloha wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean thats how're they're printed as large sheets - these are just uncut.

yes, but the only place where to buy the sheets of $2 bills is at the US Mint so they can set any price. It's another form of Seignorage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seigniorage , where the government gets to keep the difference between the cost of producing these coins and/or notes and keeps the difference as this money is unlikely to be back in circulation. Same thing happened with the 50 states collectible 25c, i…

Btw, I wonder what strategy would lead to maximisation of Seignorage (in inflation adjusted terms).

Ignoring collectors items for a moment, I suspect keeping inflation low will lead to higher absolute monetary balance held by the public, more than making up for not raking in much in 'inflation tax'.

See eg how the Bank of Japan could pump out lots and lots of money to be held by the general public, when their inflation rates were low or negative.

Re: Uncut Currency

#82

Post by Scoundreller »

_alex_ wrote: post #31
xbmcuser wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I recall correctly this is because someone found an infinite money glitch and used a credit card that had a big cash back. So he would buy the bills then deposit into his bank account and pay of his credit cards. So now they increased the price to more than the face value.

That was with the dollar coins

I miss Fatwallet

Re: Uncut Currency

#84

Post by Scoundreller »

WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #6

I've been looking to decorate with stock certificates but bill sheets are cool too. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=50+stock+certificates

Grab that 1960 American Express share certificate!

Up until 1965, it was an unlimited liability corporation.

Re: Uncut Currency

#85

Post by mike_d »

sschueller wrote: post #32

Why is the US one of the few countries that can't keep a consistent design across their bills and still does not have a way for blind people to identify which note they have. They are all the same size and have no embossed markings.

LOL. The lack of a consistent design is a core accessibility feature.

Most "blind" people have some amount of vision. So starting in 1997 they began adding the very large numerals on the back and visual inconsistencies to the front so you can tell them apart with limited sight. Have a look at the bills side by side and you can see how they vary the background gradients and layout for easier identification: https://www.uscurrency.gov/denominations/100

With the 2020s series refresh (Catalyst) all the denominations will get a tactile area to assist the completely blind.

The government also provides free of charge to any legally blind person a small device that reads special markings on the bill and will audibly announce or vibrate the denomination. They also funded iOS and Android apps that use the camera.

Re: Uncut Currency

#86

Post by bmitc »

Aeolun wrote: post #45
sschueller wrote: post #32

Why is the US one of the few countries that can't keep a consistent design across their bills and still does not have a way for blind people to identify which note they have. They are all the same size and have no embossed markings.

The thing I cannot fathom is why quarters are so huge, considering they’re nearly valueless. Then you need whole stacks of $1 bills to pay anything relevant. I find both constantly cluttering up my wallet.

They weren't always valueless. That's the reason.

Re: Uncut Currency

#87

Post by mike_d »

Scoundreller wrote: post #77
supernova87a wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is already big a deal to change the images on currency (no matter what country). Given the US dollar is viewed as somewhat of a standard, you can imagine that to change its size/shape would be quite difficult to generate enough political enthusiasm for.

The insistence on cotton paper money is part of the problem. Canada’s banknotes are all the same size but because they’re polymer, have a brail punch in them. Edit: not braille but a system of raised dots nonetheless: https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/audience-specific-reso...

There is one private company that either directly manufactures or leases the machines out to produce every polymer banknote in the world. In theory Romania already has 80% of what they need to produce Australian bank notes and vice versa.

There isn't anything other than US bills you can use to get the raw materials for US currency.

Re: Uncut Currency

#88

Post by bmitc »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #52
sschueller wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO the primary issue is that the US still has people on it. In a democracy it should be the values of the country that should be represented not individuals. Everyone from left to right should be able to agree on what the US stands for. How one gets there is what people argue about.

> the primary issue is that the US still has people on it This is hardly unique. > In a democracy it should be the values of the country that should be represented not individuals The world's oldest (Britain, Iceland) and largest (India, America) democracies have people on their currencies. Democracies are a human institution. It's dangerous to forget that.

And people seem to forget that the U.S. is not a pure democracy. It's a democratic republic that is becoming more and more republic-like than democratic-like.

Re: Uncut Currency

#89

Post by encomiast »

Aeolun wrote: post #45
sschueller wrote: post #32

Why is the US one of the few countries that can't keep a consistent design across their bills and still does not have a way for blind people to identify which note they have. They are all the same size and have no embossed markings.

The thing I cannot fathom is why quarters are so huge, considering they’re nearly valueless. Then you need whole stacks of $1 bills to pay anything relevant. I find both constantly cluttering up my wallet.

I think I’ve had the same $23 in my wallet for four years. Can’t remember the last time I carried a coin around.

Re: Uncut Currency

#90

Post by encomiast »

sschueller wrote: post #49
supernova87a wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is already big a deal to change the images on currency (no matter what country). Given the US dollar is viewed as somewhat of a standard, you can imagine that to change its size/shape would be quite difficult to generate enough political enthusiasm for.

IMO the primary issue is that the US still has people on it. In a democracy it should be the values of the country that should be represented not individuals. Everyone from left to right should be able to agree on what the US stands for. How one gets there is what people argue about.

It’s a feature (or bug)of US democracy that one of its primary values, its reason for existing, is to support individuals and their freedom. Individuals are the values.
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