Anonymous - 11-25-2002 at 09:59 PM
By Anna Gorman
TIJUANA, Mexico ? Cash has taken on a shiny new face in Mexico, where the government has introduced currency that is supposed to outperform the
standard peso ? lasting longer, staying drier and even helping prevent the spread of bacteria.
Mexico recently debuted the plastic 20-peso note, designed to be more durable than paper money. The bills cost more to produce but are expected to
last four times longer than ordinary pesos, which often became ragged and ripped after nine months.
The move toward plastic currency began in Australia in 1988 and has spread to more than 20 countries, mostly those ? such as Bangladesh, Thailand and
Indonesia ? where high humidity can turn bills into a soggy mess. Mexico is the first country in North America to experiment with the innovative
currency, which is slippery to the touch.
The 20-peso notes, worth about $2, look like paper bills. They are flexible enough to fit into a wallet, but they are hard to crumple and nearly
impossible to tear by hand. They also have added protections to discourage counterfeiting.
"They don't get wet, they don't get dirty and they don't rip," said Noel Valdez, a hair-salon manager in Tijuana.
The United States has studied the currency but doesn't plan to make the switch, said Claudia Dickens, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing. Dickens pointed to the increased cost as a deterrent.
"For right now, we are staying with the cotton and linen blend," she said. "But that's not to say we won't consider a polymer material in the future."
The Bank of Mexico may replace all of its paper currency, depending on how the new bills fare, according to Jaime Pacreu, director of note issue.
Just steps from the border in Tijuana, Graciela Reyes sells blankets, statuettes and jewelry to visitors. "Money is money, it doesn't matter," she
said. "I just want the tourists to bring more of it."
20 peso bill
Tucker - 11-25-2002 at 11:04 PM
It looks pretty much the same as the old, except for the small clear plastic window and many of the small markings being changed.
They are working just fine
JESSE - 11-26-2002 at 03:10 PM
Actually the bills are working perfectly, they are stronger, imposible to counterfeit (for now) and a lot cleaner, i love them and wish for the rest
of our currency to be transformed into plastic money, basically the old bills lasted like 6 months in circulation, and these babies i just cant see
how their going to be worned out in less than 1 1/2 years, i think it is a good desition by owr goverment, it will save some money, and we are going
to have better curency.