Reply #9: How about making each denomination a different isze sovisually impaired people can tell what bill [View All]

[BrklynLiberal]

they are handling. They do that in most other countries. As long as we are undergoing all these currency changes...why not make one that will REALLY matter?

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/checking/changes-to-currency-may-help-the-blind-1.aspx
Ways your money might change

* Size. Nearly every country on earth prints different denominations in different sizes. In Australia, where bills vary by length and color, they even sell a notched plastic device to help blind foreigners get a grip on their money. Aussie bills also are made of a plastic polymer that lasts four times longer than fibrous currency.

* Color. The color of money may not help the blind, but it does wonders for the visually and cognitively impaired. Only the United States and Switzerland do not designate denominations by color.

* Embossing. To the sighted, it would seem intuitive to use embossed Braille to identify bills in the same way we identify room numbers and elevators. One big problem: Not all blind and visually impaired people read Braille. In Canada, the upper right corner of the face side of bills is embossed. The downside: Embossing tends to flatten with use.

* Engraving. Sixteen countries engrave their bills with printed patterns. These, too, tend to flatten with age.

* Watermarks. Similar to engraving, watermarks provide a raised surface to help the blind identify notes. The Japanese yen incorporates watermarks in the corners of bills.

* Notches, cut corners and holes. Corner clipping and other low-cost solutions are generally ineffective. After all, how many normal notes have you had where one or more corners were missing through use and abuse? The same holds true with notches, while holes would weaken the bill, shortening its lifespan.