[nfbwatlk] Canadian currency

[Mary Ellen]

About ten years ago, the Canadian government assembled a group of blind
people and service provider. They entered into a contract with CNIB to
gather these people together to evaluate designs for accessible currency.
The result was a system of groups of dots the size and configuration of a
Braille cell. These "for" signs were added to currency: one cell for $5, two
cells for $10, three cells for $20, and I don't know whether the system
continued to $50 or $100 since I very rarely have bills of that
denomination. Canadian money has always been differently colored for
different denominations, so anybody with color vision could already easily
distinguish between bills. The denominations are printed in figures about
two inches high, so someone with some remaining vision can also read the
numbers. They're quite feelable when the bills are brand new. 
The government was very proud of its new system and sent press releases
throughout the land to demonstrate how progressive and inclusive they were.
There was only one problem, one which anyone who thought about it for ten
minutes (no, seconds) could have predicted. Within a few weeks of
circulation, the bills were so wrinkled that the dots were
indistinguishable. They thought that, since the dots were some sort of
plasticized material affixed to the bills, not dots embossed in the way
Braille generally is, that they would be durable. No such luck! I still
identify bills the same way I always have, unless I happen to get one new
enough for the dots to still be distinguishable. Since more cells are added
to larger bills, the mistake that would be made if the cells could no longer
be felt would be to believe one had a smaller denomination. I still fold
bills when I get them and ask the clerk or teller to tell me what I'm being
given.
Canadian coins, like American coins, are easily distinguishable by touch.
Canada no longer has $1 or $2 bills; they have been replaced by coins
lovingly referred to as loonies (because of the picture of a loon on the
coin) and twonies, (to rhyme with loonie, though I think there is a beaver
on them.) There is talk of making a five dollar coin, but there might be a
rebellion from people who don't like the wear and tear on purses and
pockets. There is also a movement to eliminate the penny altogether, Since
the lowly penny can no longer purchase anything.