Redesigned $20
May 13, 2003 12:36 PM Subscribe
US Treasury unveils new $20: A joyous day for numismatics! After a few months of delay, we can now carry a bit of color in our billfolds.
Is it just me, or does Jackson look like a hunchback on the new 20?
posted by trigfunctions at 12:44 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by trigfunctions at 12:44 PM on May 13, 2003
I find it really interesting that the oval that traditionally has bordered the portrait is gone. That's one of the defining characteristics of US bills. Can't wait to see one in person.
posted by fraying at 12:44 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by fraying at 12:44 PM on May 13, 2003
My niece once colored all the bills in my wallet (okay, it was only $7) because she heard me saying I wish we had more colorful money. I think her designs were more attractive.
posted by ferociouskitty at 12:52 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by ferociouskitty at 12:52 PM on May 13, 2003
It's pretty trippy. I heard if you lick the seal you totally get a dose.
Actually, it's ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:54 PM on May 13, 2003
Is it just me, or does Jackson look like a hunchback on the new 20?
Actually, it's ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:54 PM on May 13, 2003
More info, higher resolution pictures available at The Money Factory.
posted by mnology at 12:59 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by mnology at 12:59 PM on May 13, 2003
What do we call them now in place of greenbacks? Peachbacks?
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:59 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:59 PM on May 13, 2003
Coloured money rules, as Canada and the makers of Monoploy figured out many, many years ago.
posted by orange swan at 1:02 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by orange swan at 1:02 PM on May 13, 2003
I love the design.
I wish it wasn't Andrew Jackson... but otherwise I love the design.
The Treasury knows Americans, and knows that it'll take baby steps to make the big changes enthusiasts are jonesing for... and who knows, some day we may have actual colors, rather than just tints!
posted by silusGROK at 1:06 PM on May 13, 2003
I wish it wasn't Andrew Jackson... but otherwise I love the design.
The Treasury knows Americans, and knows that it'll take baby steps to make the big changes enthusiasts are jonesing for... and who knows, some day we may have actual colors, rather than just tints!
posted by silusGROK at 1:06 PM on May 13, 2003
how many versions of a bill can we carry in our pockets? What if this isn't a big hit? This is the 3rd variation that will be legal tender.
posted by tomplus2 at 1:18 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by tomplus2 at 1:18 PM on May 13, 2003
I wish it wasn't Andrew Jackson...
It would be cool to start monkeying around with the faces on the bills, or at least with the designs on the back. It's not like you need to be President -- neither Hamilton nor Franklin were, at least in my timeline. And it would be nice to see MLK on a bill, or maybe Elvis.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:23 PM on May 13, 2003
It would be cool to start monkeying around with the faces on the bills, or at least with the designs on the back. It's not like you need to be President -- neither Hamilton nor Franklin were, at least in my timeline. And it would be nice to see MLK on a bill, or maybe Elvis.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:23 PM on May 13, 2003
This is the 3rd variation that will be legal tender.
That's a good point. Is there a time when the original $20s are no longer legal tender? I know the fed is slowly cycling them out right now as they come in, but there are going to be soem stashed away. Wouldn't it be even easier to get away with a forged old $20 nowadays then it was years ago?
posted by Ufez Jones at 1:25 PM on May 13, 2003
That's a good point. Is there a time when the original $20s are no longer legal tender? I know the fed is slowly cycling them out right now as they come in, but there are going to be soem stashed away. Wouldn't it be even easier to get away with a forged old $20 nowadays then it was years ago?
posted by Ufez Jones at 1:25 PM on May 13, 2003
I joked this morning (before seeing the pictures) that the new color would probably be dark green. It looks like I wasn't too far off. Why are Americans such wusses when it comes to our money?
posted by krtzmrk at 1:29 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by krtzmrk at 1:29 PM on May 13, 2003
Why are Americans such wusses when it comes to our money?
Frankly I think US currently looks more regal. While lots of color does add a coolness or neeto factor to cash, I want money (particularly money that is not backed by gold or silver) that looks it can be taken seriously. I have little experience with the Eruo, but the Canadian Dollar or the old Italian Lira don't look serious enough for me. I guess that makes me a wuss.
posted by Bag Man at 1:47 PM on May 13, 2003
Frankly I think US currently looks more regal. While lots of color does add a coolness or neeto factor to cash, I want money (particularly money that is not backed by gold or silver) that looks it can be taken seriously. I have little experience with the Eruo, but the Canadian Dollar or the old Italian Lira don't look serious enough for me. I guess that makes me a wuss.
posted by Bag Man at 1:47 PM on May 13, 2003
Thanks for the link with a clearer picture mnology. It enabled me to conclude that the wavy "TWENTY USA" is really, really gay.
Also, Jackson's hair still looks blow-dried.
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:49 PM on May 13, 2003
Also, Jackson's hair still looks blow-dried.
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:49 PM on May 13, 2003
I'm happy to see that the back still has the Easy-to-Forge corner.
The interactive tour is cool.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:24 PM on May 13, 2003
The interactive tour is cool.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:24 PM on May 13, 2003
It's a slippery slope to making our money look like France's. France, do you hear me people?
Before you know it, we'll have casual nudity as well.
posted by soyjoy at 2:46 PM on May 13, 2003
Before you know it, we'll have casual nudity as well.
-donatedms_f.jpg){kind=link}
posted by soyjoy at 2:46 PM on May 13, 2003
I wonder how much longer before the US Treasury just gives up and declares paper currency and metal coins illegal as we move to all-electronic transactions.
Meanwhile, I'm told, there's an underground economy of sorts in frequent-flyer miles.
posted by alumshubby at 5:33 PM on May 13, 2003
Meanwhile, I'm told, there's an underground economy of sorts in frequent-flyer miles.
posted by alumshubby at 5:33 PM on May 13, 2003
Frankly I think US currently looks more regal. While lots of color does add a coolness or neeto factor to cash, I want money (particularly money that is not backed by gold or silver) that looks it can be taken seriously.
In addition to being more difficult to counterfeit, different-colored money is also easier to tell apart in your wallet. That's what I'll be looking forward to, anyway. And remember that the old color and design were once ridiculed too.. I suspect in a few years fewer people will question the regality of the new designs.
Not that I think it's a particularly brilliant design, I'm just saying..
posted by Hildago at 7:19 PM on May 13, 2003
In addition to being more difficult to counterfeit, different-colored money is also easier to tell apart in your wallet. That's what I'll be looking forward to, anyway. And remember that the old color and design were once ridiculed too.. I suspect in a few years fewer people will question the regality of the new designs.
Not that I think it's a particularly brilliant design, I'm just saying..
posted by Hildago at 7:19 PM on May 13, 2003
Also, Jackson's hair still looks blow-dried.
Wouldn't you want perky, stylized hair after a long hard day of needlessly slaughtering Indians?
posted by kaibutsu at 7:48 PM on May 13, 2003
Wouldn't you want perky, stylized hair after a long hard day of needlessly slaughtering Indians?
posted by kaibutsu at 7:48 PM on May 13, 2003
At the next meeting of the Americans Against Monopoly Money we're ceding Washington DC to the canadians. They can take the lousy new design with them. Colored money is the first step on the dangerous path to them eventually getting rid of the dollar bill and completely replacing it with a coin. I blame the candians for this.
posted by piper28 at 10:49 PM on May 13, 2003
posted by piper28 at 10:49 PM on May 13, 2003
What's up with the lack of an image border? It looks like some kind of strange mushroom cloud. And what are the orange things? Fish?
I really, really don't like this at all. I sware I'm gonna start caring around 50s or something. This is butt ugly
The whole plan was to try to make it imposible for people to bleach 1s or 5s and turn them into 20s and up. I guess it'll work, but, ugh, it looks ugly.
I understand the desire, but wouldn't, for example, little colored tabs have worked? Maybe printed the denomination in colored metallic ink in a small corner?
posted by delmoi at 11:32 PM on May 13, 2003
Frankly I think US currently looks more regal.
'Regal'? Where does that idea come from? If it were 'regal', it'd be gold sovereigns and sous and pieces of eight, and hand-written assignats the size of newspapers.
US currency is bread-mould green, it's easy to forge, and it's a nightmare for those with visual impairments because there are no size cues for distinguishing values. In fact, it breaks all the rules of good currency design.
soyjoy: the French have Euros now, which aren't particularly exciting to look at, but are easy to tell apart, both coins and notes. It's a pity: I saved one of the Petit Prince notes, and used to collect the post-war, pre-revaluation banknotes. The biggest loss with the introduction of the euro was probably the gorgeous Dutch 50 guilder notes.
posted by riviera at 1:28 AM on May 14, 2003
'Regal'? Where does that idea come from? If it were 'regal', it'd be gold sovereigns and sous and pieces of eight, and hand-written assignats the size of newspapers.
US currency is bread-mould green, it's easy to forge, and it's a nightmare for those with visual impairments because there are no size cues for distinguishing values. In fact, it breaks all the rules of good currency design.
soyjoy: the French have Euros now, which aren't particularly exciting to look at, but are easy to tell apart, both coins and notes. It's a pity: I saved one of the Petit Prince notes, and used to collect the post-war, pre-revaluation banknotes. The biggest loss with the introduction of the euro was probably the gorgeous Dutch 50 guilder notes.
posted by riviera at 1:28 AM on May 14, 2003
different-colored money is also easier to tell apart in your wallet
If you can't read numbers (expect for those with sight problems), perhaps you shouldn't be using money at all. I think your argument is well a stupid one.
'Regal'? Where does that idea come from?
Just looks more official I guess.
US money is just different, that's all. If the rest of the world does not what America to impose upon them, it's only fair that rest of the world should not impose upon me.
posted by Bag Man at 12:26 PM on May 15, 2003
If you can't read numbers (expect for those with sight problems), perhaps you shouldn't be using money at all. I think your argument is well a stupid one.
'Regal'? Where does that idea come from?
Just looks more official I guess.
US money is just different, that's all. If the rest of the world does not what America to impose upon them, it's only fair that rest of the world should not impose upon me.
posted by Bag Man at 12:26 PM on May 15, 2003
« Older How to lose a never-ending war against nothing | When the split hits the fan Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by aladfar at 12:37 PM on May 13, 2003