A Nice $end-Off

As part of an unrelated event, some Ranger friends gave us a nice send-off. In the course of the festivities I was given not one, but two caches of "cast-off" Australian currency--money that had lost its value entirely in light of the difficulty of turning it back into spendable $US. I'll take it on a little trip, and--poof--it has value again. Isn't that weird?

Another note on Australian currency: I believe that some here at home may have proposed printing our folding money onto durable plastic such as is used for some kinds of commercial mailing bags. (Not Tyvek, which I am not certain can stand repeated handling. Maybe it can, but I don't know.) It appears that the Australians have beaten us to it. Their $10 bill seems to be on some kind of smooth plastic; there is even a transparent window in it.

I haven't tried tearing it--not while there is a chance that it may be worth nearly eleven dollars U.S. (if I have read the conversion correctly)--but it does seem quite robust (in a non-metaphorical way) and entirely non-paper-y.

Their coins are heavier and prettier than ours (higher relief), although they seem also to be minted of something base; they thud onto tabletops just about as badly as our new coins do.

I look forward to spending this money. Thanks, Phil & Pete!

Thanks also to Pete & Irene for hosting a nice afternoon; it was very nice seeing everybody. See you again soon.

--Mark_