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Comment by Scoundreller | Hacker News Reader

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...

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I personally far prefer the cotton paper money over any polymer notes or coins and hope we keep using it despite any other potential changes to the sizes or designs or whatever.

Why?

Probably just the texture and feel.

I think it is a nice material that is highly robust, tolerates creases and heat significantly better, and feels much nicer. I don't really understand why anyone would prefer polymer notes.

The last iteration of German paper money was cotton-based and had raised markers, so it's not an either-or. Example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Mark#/media/File:5_Ma... (the : in the bottom left area, next to the 5)

These bills also had sizs that increased with their denomination.

True, but is that unusual? I know that U.S. notes are same size, but that seems to be the exception to me?

I wish it was the reverse. I’d prefer to have the smallest denominations within easiest reach by being the biggest and the largest denoms tucked away and hard to get to.

But retailers would protest I’m sure: it’s not the psychology they want.

I still keep a 5 DM coin in my wallet. DM was the best!

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.

The Swiss company Orell Füssli prints the Swiss currency as well as currencies for 16 other central banks.

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

You are very confident when you have no idea what you're talking about.

https://darknetdiaries.com/transcript/102/

All you need is the cotton blend of paper. There's no secret ingredient. Either find a paper pulp manufacturer who sells the blend like this guy from Quebec or build your own processes like North Korea. Many developing world currencies are more secure than the USD.

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