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October 21, 2003

The New Twenty

I like it.

Way back in the day, when I worked for Xerox, I got an opportunity to read up on some of the security risks associated with the old paper currency. Xerox Research had been tapped to suggest ways to outsmart their own reproductive technology. The two suggestions they mentioned are now both included on the new twenty dollar bill.

The first was two color ink. This has been used for a while now. As soon as the '2nd Generation' bills were released, the bottom right number has used ink that is green from one direction and black from another. It's a very cool idea and I understand that it's very difficult to do.

The other idea of Xerox's was to insert some holographic or reflective material into the bill. This was based on the new technology in the 80s which is now commonplace on credit cards. The new twenty now has a small eagle and shield to the right of the portrait which is sparkly. I think it's the most quickly identifiable of all the security features. Note that there is no perceptible rise in the paper, that's not stamped on there like glitter on a christmas card.

The paper feels very different. As an ex-bank teller, I'm fairly certain they are using a different stock. It's a lot less crisp and sharp than ordinary new bills. It almost has a 'pre-washed' feel to it. That's good news for tellers, because we hated new bills because they stuck together and we would invariably overpay customers. These don't seem to have that problem. I want to see how the paper feels over time. Since I'm not a teller, I don't particularly like the feel, but I'll get used to it.

I'm indifferent about the choice of color. I understand the choice of keeping it bland. I think it's very subtle that the width of the manilla color is different on the front and the back and that it fades from one into the other. The little yellow twenties on the back, however cleverly random they appear, are cheesy.

I do prefer the portrait without a frame. I think relying on that old check of the fine line of the oval portrait frame was probably pretty lame anyway. Jackson's cloak is very well done. That's going to be very hard to reproduce it's a Moire nightmare.

All in all, I think they did a fine job. And I love the dollar coin too.

Posted by mbowen at October 21, 2003 09:40 AM

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Comments

Posted by: Steve at October 21, 2003 11:31 PM